Mystery as bride-to-be dies on hike at world-famous landmark
A 41-year-old woman has lost her life while hiking along a beginners trail in the Grand Canyon National Park.
Melanie Goodine, from Canada, was just weeks away from her wedding when she took the trip to Arizona.
Her fiance Stephen Spicer told CTV News Ottowa that his bride-to-be wanted to do one more hike before they said I do.
Mystery surrounds Ms Goodine’s death after a haunting last call for help was made on Thursday from the Bright Angel Trail.
In a statement, the National Park Service (NPS) said the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Centre received a ‘hiker in distress’ report at around 5.50pm on June 2.
“Soon thereafter, the hiker became unresponsive and bystanders initiated CPR,” it said.
“National Park Service search and rescue personnel responded and assisted with resuscitation efforts.
“All attempts to resuscitate the individual were unsuccessful.”
The cause of Ms Goodine's death is not yet known.
It’s believed Ms Goodine may have been on a 32-kilometre round trip to the Colorado River when she ran into trouble on her way back.
On the day she died, temperatures in the area where she was hiking ranged between 35 and 40 degrees celsius in the shade, a spokesperson for the Grand Canyon National Park told CNN.
In a warning on its website, the NPS recommends people avoid hiking in direct sunlight between the hours of 10am and 4pm, the hottest part of the day.
“Sun temperatures are 9 to 11 degrees hotter than posted shade temperatures,” the NPS explains.
“And keep in mind, the farther into the canyon you go, the hotter it gets.”
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Friend pays tribute to bride-to-be
Ms Goodine, who was due to wed in July, is being remembered for her warmth and pure and genuine nature.
“[People like her are] quite rare to find in the world these days,” her friend Michelle Venneri told CTV News Ottawa.
“Her lasting impressions always left an imprint on my soul and I’m sure on many others in this world also.”
The National Park Service and Coconico County Medical Examiner are investigating Ms Goodine’s death.
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