Second Hiker Found Dead in Grand Canyon Flash Floods

A second victim of flash flooding at the Grand Canyon has been identified as Brent Rosenkranz, 42.

Rosenkranz, a martial arts studio owner, was found dead after a torrential downpour engulfed the canyon’s South Rim. Search efforts are increasingly shifting toward recovery. Rosenkranz was part of a group of three hikers camping at the national park. The body of his hiking companion, 46-year-old Texas chiropractor John Giusti, was found earlier. Search units are still searching for others, including their friend Timothy Smith, 52.

Rosenkranz’s sister set up a GoFundMe that has raised $18,000 for his widow, Elisha, and their two boys. The National Parks Service stated that all but one person missing after flash flooding has now been found. Thirty people had previously been unaccounted for, and rangers worked tirelessly to reduce that number, according to Incident Commander Dave Bla. The flooding hit parts of the Grand Canyon over the weekend.

The sole pipeline that supplies water for millions of Grand Canyon visitors was badly damaged. Roughly 40% of the Grand Canyon’s critical infrastructure was damaged. The damage to the pipeline sets up a tricky repair scenario and upends a yearslong construction project to upgrade the line. The terrain is so rugged that helicopters are often required for basic repairs.

The flooding has shut down tourist lodging and threatens the economy, which is still recovering from a fire last year. A search and rescue operation is expected to continue Tuesday to find the last missing person. Questions are arising about whether people could have been warned sooner.