GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, AZ — The body of a woman reported missing after a flash flood passed through Havasu Creek on Thursday was found Sunday morning, according to the National Park Service.
Several hikers became stranded around 1:30 p.m. Thursday when a flash flood occurred, leading to rescue efforts around Beaver Falls later in the afternoon.
Chenoa Nickerson, 33, was reportedly swept into Havasu Creek, about a half-mile above the Colorado River confluence. National Park officials say Nickerson was not wearing a life jacket at the time.
Nickerson's body was reportedly found Sunday morning around 11:30 a.m. near river mile 176, approximately 19 miles away from where she was last seen, by a commercial river trip. Her body was recovered by park rangers and was flown to the Coconino County Medical Examiner.
ABC15 spoke to Nickerson’s sister, Tamara Morales, while search efforts were still underway. She provided a photo of her in the canyon and said, “We remain hopeful that she will be found safely. Her Husband Andrew has been rescued and is safe. We love her very much and are not giving up on her. We want all efforts focused on the search and finding her safely.”
On Friday night, Governor Katie Hobbs activated the Arizona National Guard to help with rescue efforts in Havasupai due to recent flooding.
Morales noted the National Guard deployment and praised rescue crews with the National Park Service for “navigating incredibly dangerous terrain with extremely limited methods of communication while leaving no stone unturned.”
VIDEO: Hiker Lauren Fischbeck captured her dramatic rescue from Havasupai, Grand Canyon flooding late last week.
— Lillian Donahue (@LillianDonahue) August 26, 2024
UPDATE: All visitors have been evacuated. Missing woman, Chenoa Nickerson’s body was sadly found ~20 miles down the Colorado River on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/br4z1hiIr3
The Havasupai Tribe’s reservation is one of the most remote in the continental U.S., accessible only by foot, mule or helicopter. The Tribal Council closed the steep, winding trail that leads to the reservation after the flooding and asked visitors with permits through Sunday not to come.
Nickerson's death is under investigation by the National Park Service and the Coconino Medical Examiner.
Her family said she was a world traveler, had a big heart and a love of nature.
The family wants to thank the National Park Service Search and Rescue team for their dedication to finding Nickerson and people all over the country tuned into the search.
“The amount of love and support that we have received from everybody, the public, all over social media, obviously our close friends and family, it's been unwavering,” brother Janosh Wolters said. “I mean the amount of support to find her and everything was the feelings indescribable.”
They’re raising money in her honor to donate to the Park Service team. Click here to donate.
“To give back and make sure that future families can hopefully find their loved ones before any anything tragic happens,” Wolters said.
