Man falls to death while hiking in Provo Canyon, leaving 9-year-old boy to descend mountain on his own

A Utah man hiking with his fiancee’s young son has died near Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon, leaving the 9-year-old boy to descend the mountain alone, authorities said.

The boy’s mother called for help, saying she could see her son from below, crying and alone, according to a press release from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials said it was not clear why Adrian Vanderklis fell, but said “it is possible that he tripped or slipped on loose material.”

Researchers and volunteer rescuers and a team of helicopters from the Ministry of Public Security intervened on Saturday evening. They found the body of Roosevelt’s 40-year-old Vanderklis at an elevation of about 5,800 feet on an almost vertical slope after dark, and determined that he apparently died immediately from his injuries.

The body was secured and hoisted from the cliff by the helicopter, then taken to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy, reports ABC affiliate KUTV.

The boy was with him but did not see Vanderklis fall, the sheriff’s office said.