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Authorities recover body of Arizona woman who went missing in Grand Canyon after flash flood

Authorities recover body of Arizona woman who went missing in Grand Canyon after flash flood
The family of 33 year old Shanoa Nickerson is grieving the loss of *** valley wife, sister and daughter, Nickerson's family telling 12 news in part she Noah's light will forever be *** part of all of us and we will ensure that her spirit continues to shine brightly. Nickerson's body was discovered around 1130 on Sunday morning, three days after she was swept away by *** flash flood in Havasu Canyon. *** group of people on *** commercial river trip found her body about 20 miles downriver from where she first went missing the Nickerson Walters family, thanking the search and rescue crews saying in part, we are profoundly grateful for their dedication and hard work which have impacted us in ways words cannot express Nickerson was with her husband at the time of the flood. He was able to be rescued by *** group of rafters. The Arizona National Guard rescued more than 100 people after the severe flooding destroyed parts of Havasu Pike Creek, trapping hikers and campers beyond impassable trails. The next steps are working with federal and state emergency management systems to come in, do an evaluation and assess the extent of the damage and then put *** plan in place to begin repairing. Uh the, the campground, the trails, uh there was some damage to some of the homes in the, in the buildings and Havasupai. And so there will be *** long time of evaluation and, and clean up.
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Authorities recover body of Arizona woman who went missing in Grand Canyon after flash flood
The body of an Arizona woman who went missing in the Grand Canyon National Park after a flash flood days earlier was recovered Sunday, park rangers said.The body of Chenoa Nickerson, 33, from the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, Arizona, was discovered by a group rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, the park said in a statement.Rangers recovered Nickerson's body, which was transported to the rim by helicopter and transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office.In a statement issued Sunday, her family thanked searchers and supporters and asked for privacy.“We regret to inform you that our sweet Chenoa has been found deceased. Our hearts are heavy with grief,” the statement said. “Chenoa’s light will forever be a part of all of us, and we will ensure that her spirit continues to shine brightly. Her memory will never fade, and we will honor her by carrying forward the joy and love she brought into all of our lives.”National Park Service officials said Nickerson was swept into Havasu Creek above the Colorado River confluence around 1:30 p.m. Thursday. She wasn’t wearing a life jacket.Nickerson was hiking along Havasu Creek, about a half-mile from where it meets up with the Colorado River, when the flash flood struck.Nickerson’s husband was among the more than 100 people safely evacuated.The flood trapped several hikers in the area above and below Beaver Falls, one of a series of usually blue-green waterfalls that draw tourists from around the world to the Havasupai Tribe’s reservation. The area is prone to flooding that turns its iconic waterfalls chocolate brown.Other hikers made it to the village, about 2 miles from the campground, where they awaited helicopter rides out.Gov. Katie Hobbs activated the Arizona National Guard, including Blackhawk helicopters, to help evacuate hikers from the village.Guard officials said an estimated 104 tribal members and tourists near Havasupai Falls have been evacuated since Thursday after floodwaters left them stranded.The Havasupai Tribe’s reservation is one of the most remote in the continental U.S., accessible only by foot, mule or helicopter.Helicopter evacuations began after bridges were washed away and rescuers fanned out amid a series of towering waterfalls.The medical examiner’s office and park service are investigating her death.

The body of an Arizona woman who went missing in the Grand Canyon National Park after a flash flood days earlier was recovered Sunday, park rangers said.

The body of Chenoa Nickerson, 33, from the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, Arizona, was discovered by a group rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, the park said in a statement.

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Rangers recovered Nickerson's body, which was transported to the rim by helicopter and transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office.

In a statement issued Sunday, her family thanked searchers and supporters and asked for privacy.

“We regret to inform you that our sweet Chenoa has been found deceased. Our hearts are heavy with grief,” the statement said. “Chenoa’s light will forever be a part of all of us, and we will ensure that her spirit continues to shine brightly. Her memory will never fade, and we will honor her by carrying forward the joy and love she brought into all of our lives.”

National Park Service officials said Nickerson was swept into Havasu Creek above the Colorado River confluence around 1:30 p.m. Thursday. She wasn’t wearing a life jacket.

Nickerson was hiking along Havasu Creek, about a half-mile from where it meets up with the Colorado River, when the flash flood struck.

Nickerson’s husband was among the more than 100 people safely evacuated.

The flood trapped several hikers in the area above and below Beaver Falls, one of a series of usually blue-green waterfalls that draw tourists from around the world to the Havasupai Tribe’s reservation. The area is prone to flooding that turns its iconic waterfalls chocolate brown.

Other hikers made it to the village, about 2 miles from the campground, where they awaited helicopter rides out.

Gov. Katie Hobbs activated the Arizona National Guard, including Blackhawk helicopters, to help evacuate hikers from the village.

Guard officials said an estimated 104 tribal members and tourists near Havasupai Falls have been evacuated since Thursday after floodwaters left them stranded.

The Havasupai Tribe’s reservation is one of the most remote in the continental U.S., accessible only by foot, mule or helicopter.

Helicopter evacuations began after bridges were washed away and rescuers fanned out amid a series of towering waterfalls.

The medical examiner’s office and park service are investigating her death.