News Release

Boater Fatality on the Colorado River at Hance Rapid — Feb. 2026

NPS response to Hance Rapid on Feb. 19, 2026

NPS Photo

News Release Date: February 23, 2026

Contact: Grand Canyon Office of Communications

On Thursday, Feb. 19, at approximately 11:15 a.m., Grand Canyon National Park received an emergency alert from a noncommercial river trip near Hance Rapid on the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center subsequently received a report that CPR was in progress on an individual. 

Aaron Benjamin, 30, of Post Falls, Idaho, entered the river at the top of Hance Rapid at Colorado River Mile 77. Members of the group pulled him from the water, found him unresponsive and began CPR. Park rangers were flown to the location by park helicopter; all resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. 

The National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner are investigating the incident. No further information is available at this time. 

-NPS-