Grand Canyon trip turns tragic for 3 friends, as 2 confirmed dead, 1 remains missing after flash flooding
A search is ongoing for Timothy Allen Smith, 53, authorities said.
One of the Grand Canyon flooding victims was described by his family as the "ultimate hero" of his daughters, and loved ones of another said the role he cherished most was being there for the people he cared about.
Dr. John Giusti and his friend, Brent Rosenkranz, bonded over fatherhood and the love of the outdoors, and both died on a camping trip to the Grand Canyon when they were washed away by the flash flood that struck the national park on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
A third friend, Timothy Allen Smith, 53, was also on the camping trip. The father of three from Star Valley, Wyoming, remains missing, as a search for him continued on Wednesday, officials said. Smith works as a pilot for NetJet, a private charter jet company, according to his family.
The Grand Canyon National Park Service (NPS) confirmed that Giusti and Rosenkranz died in the flood. The agency said Smith is the only one it has confirmed as missing, based on an accounting of overnight camping permit holders.
However, officials acknowledged that others who did not have an overnight permit to stay at the canyon could be among the missing.
Rescue crews recovered Rosenkranz's body on Monday, and he was identified by the NPS on Tuesday afternoon. Giusti's remains were recovered on Sunday near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, the NPS said.
"One member of the hiking group remains missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with teams continuing efforts to locate the missing hiker and account for anyone else who may have been in the affected area at the time of the flood," the NPS said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
At least 82 people were rescued from the flooded area, most by helicopter, authorities said.
In a joint statement, the families of Giusti, Rosenkranz and Smith said the three men entered the Grand Canyon together on Friday "for a trip they had been eagerly planning."
The families said the men intended to hike to the canyon's Bright Angel Campground, spend two days fishing and exploring trails near the bottom of the canyon, before wrapping up their trip at the park's Havasupai Gardens.
But around 2 p.m. local time on Saturday, disaster struck when monsoonal rains turned Bright Angel Creek into a raging river. Survivors described a wall of water that came down the creek, wiping out nearly every footbridge in the area and destroying campgrounds and vital infrastructure.
Dr. John Giusti
Giusti, 46, of Granbury, Texas, was the married father of three daughters. He worked as a chiropractor for ChiroHabit in Granbury, his family said.
"To the community, he was a gifted healer. To his friends, a powerhouse of life. To his daughters, he was their ultimate hero. To me, he was my whole world,” Giusti's wife, Janet Giusti, said in a statement.
The family said Giusti poured himself into helping others and "brought tremendous energy to everything he loved." He was an avid runner, loved fast cars and was a passionate fan of comic books.
Exploring the Grand Canyon was Giusti's "longtime dream," his family said.
Brent Rosenkranz
Brent Rosenkranz, 42, also of Granbury, was the married father of three sons, according to the joint statement the three families released.
A lifelong martial arts enthusiast, Rosenkranz was an American Taekwondo Association martial arts instructor and school owner.
His family said he dedicated much of his life to teaching and mentoring young people.
Rosenkranz and his wife, Elisha, were married for 21 years.
His family also described him as someone who was known for taking young people under his wing, and at his church, he was even nicknamed "the baby whisperer."
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