Utah man falls to death at Angels Landing in Zion National Park



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A Utah man has died after falling from Angels Landing in Zion National Park, authorities say.

The body of Jason Hartwell, 43, of Draper, was found at the foot of the summit on Friday morning. A park rescue team began searching for him Thursday afternoon after visitors reported someone fell from the landing, according to a press release from the National Park Service.

“According to the preliminary investigation, Mr. Hartwell suffered injuries consistent with a fall from a high altitude,” officials said. “Normal park operations have resumed at Angels Landing.”

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency investigating. They did not immediately return a request for comment on Saturday.

Angels Landing is a popular, but dangerous, destination for hikers. In November 2019, a body was discovered under the landing after it was reported that a teenage hiker from Maine was missing in the park. Authorities said at the time that the body was “consistent with the age and gender” of the missing teenager.

Officials said they believed the teenager had fallen.

National Park describes it as a 5.4 mile ‘strenuous’ trail with steep drops on both sides of the trail.

On the same day Hartwell’s body was found, the US Coast Guard rescued an Oregon hiker who fell more than 100 feet from a cliff near Hug Point State Park in Arch Cape.

The hiker was conscious and responsive when he was taken from the scene in a medevac helicopter in Portland for medical attention, according to the Coast Guard.

“Effective coordination with our partner agencies ensured a safe and efficient transfer of the survivor,” said Lt. Derrick Rockey. “Working together to bring the hiker to higher medical care was the goal, and we did.”



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