Date of Event: 1/21/1999
Canyon involved: Lodge (Employee)
Region: Zion National Park, Utah
Country: USA
Submitted by: Dave Nally
Source: “Deaths & Rescues in Zion National Park” by Dave Nally
Injury: Fatality
Cause: Rockfall
Description of Event: Twenty-year-old Sasha Simpson, of Springdale, Utah was canyoneering with five of her friends. While retrieving their rope on the second-to-last drop, it became stuck in a crack. One of Simpson’s companions climbed up the rope to free it, and as he did, a rock was knocked off accidentally. Simpson saw the rock coming towards her. She lost her balance while trying to avoid it, falling 150 feet to her death. The remaining five canyoneers were short of rope, but safely rappelled down from the cliff with the help of park service rescue crews. The entire rescue and recovery of Simpson’s body took about six hours.
Analysis:
- Rockfall is more likely to happen when people are on rope, or during rope retrieval. Anyone below should find a location out of harm’s way. Due to the ricochet effect, it may be challenging to find a safe location.
- When exposed to a fall hazard, it is imperative to be tethered to an anchor.