Date: September 19, 2008
Contact: Angie Richman, 970-249-1914 x 441
(MONTROSE, CO) – Friday, September 19, 2008 – At approximately 8:00 am National Park Rangers began recovery of a body that was discovered late Thursday evening below Chasm View on the south rim of Black Canyon. By noon today, NPS ground personnel had prepared the body to be evacuated by helicopter out of the narrow canyon, and by 12:30 pm this airlift was complete.
It is believed at this time that the body is that of a young male. The cause of death appears to be consistent with massive trauma from a fall.
The body has now been turned over to the Montrose County Coroner who will make a positive identification and determine the manner of death later today or tomorrow morning.
Yesterday morning, September 18, National Park Service rangers received notification that missing college student Mark Young Jr. might be at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. At approximately 12:40 pm, a vehicle registered to Young was found by park rangers at Chasm View Overlook on the South Rim. The Montrose Sheriff’s office was then notified and joined National Park Service personnel in a search. By early evening, ground searchers had located a body approximately 100 feet from the canyon bottom, but due to nightfall the recovery was postponed until this morning.
