Victorian man dies in Grand Canyon

Victorian man dies in Grand Canyon

An Australian man has been killed by a suspected lightning strike while hiking in the Grand Canyon.

The body of 21-year-old Jonathan Crowden from Alfredton, near Ballarat, was found on the South Kaibab Trail, a popular walk in the national park, on Monday, Reuters has reported.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed in a statement they are providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian man who died in the US.

Park officials said they received a call from a witness about 4pm on Sunday about a man possibly being hit by a lightning strike, The Ballarat Courier reports.

The South Kaibab Trail descends from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River and, although relatively short at about 11 kilometres, is very steep in places and is exposed with little tree cover.

Paramedics found Crowden near Ooo-Aah Point, about 1.5 kilometres down the South Kaibab Trail, but were unable to resuscitate him, according to reports from The Age. He died at the scene.

Crowden’s parents, who were holidaying in Europe at the time of the incident, are believed to have flown over to the US following the death of their son.

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