Phoenix hiker, 23, dies after falling 80 feet in Grand Canyon National Park

A Phoenix man died after falling about 80 feet while day hiking on the South Kaibab Trail at Grand Canyon National Park, park officials said Wednesday.

Park rangers responded after getting a call shortly after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday that a person had died above the Black Bridge on the South Kaibab Trail, according to a National Park Service news release.

Rangers found the victim who was identified as 23-year-old Jaiquan Carter. He is believed to have been hiking when he fell from the trail, the news release stated.

An investigation is underway by the National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. No additional information was available as of Wednesday evening.

Paste BN has reached out to the National Park Service for additional details. 

Carter's death is at least the third this year at Grand Canyon National Park.

In early July, a Phoenix-area woman fell 100 feet to her death after accidentally stepping off the rim of the canyon while trying to take a photo. Weeks earlier, a California woman died after suffering heat-related symptoms while hiking into the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch. The high temperatures at Phantom Ranch, which sits at the bottom of the canyon, reached 114 degrees that day.

Contributing: Alden Woods, The Arizona Republic

Reach breaking news editor Mike Cruz at michael.cruz@azcentral.com or on Twitter at @mikecnews.