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Body recovered at base of Great Arch in Zion National Park

Posted at 7:36 PM, Jun 01, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-01 21:40:04-04

ZION NATIONAL PARK, Utah — Crews recovered a body in Zion National Park Thursday at the base of the Great Arch, and Saturday officials stated the man from California took his own life.

Things began Wednesday at 3 p.m. with a report of an abandoned vehicle near the Canyon Overlook Trail.

That prompted a search by Park Rangers, and later Wednesday evening a body was discovered at the base of the Great Arch. Crews assisted by a helicopter recovered the body Thursday.

Saturday, park officials stated the deceased is a 23-year-old male from San Diego, California and the death has been ruled a suicide. The man fell an estimated 500 feet and died as a result of blunt force trauma, a press release states.

Fox 13 News does not generally report on incidents of suicide unless there is a broader impact to the public, such as in the case of search and rescue operation or to update stories where the cause of death was previously undetermined.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-273-TALK. Utahns can also visit Hope4Utah and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center online for additional resources.