Woman dies while hiking Grand Canyon

Rangers at the Grand Canyon  are investigating the death of a woman who collapsed while hiking near the canyon floor. Spokeswoman Vanya Pryputniewicz said she was part of a group that had just begun an outing in very hot weather.

“The individual was in a party of five,” Pryputniewicz said. “They were heading into the Canyon for the first day of a five day back country hiking permit.”

Pryputniewicz said Rangers had been warning people about the dangers of hiking in the extreme conditions. The Coconino County Medical Examiner's office is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of the woman's death.