A Granbury chiropractor remains missing after deadly flash flooding swept through Grand Canyon National Park over the weekend, according to his family, as search and recovery operations continue.
John Giusti, who operates ChiroHabit in Granbury, was hiking and camping with a group in the Grand Canyon when floodwaters swept through the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch area on Saturday, according to an update shared by his family.
The National Park Service said the significant flash flood began at approximately 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Giusti’s wife said his hiking group was “among those currently reported missing and unaccounted for” and that search-and-rescue crews were conducting ground searches and helicopter operations. The National Park Service has not publicly identified Giusti among the people it is attempting to locate or account for, Fox News reported Sunday.
Search continues for missing hikers
The National Park Service asked the public Sunday for information about people who may be missing or unaccounted for following the flooding. The agency’s public notice said approximately 15 people might be missing or unaccounted for.
Grand Canyon National Park personnel have coordinated response efforts with the Arizona Department of Public Safety while working to account for people who may have been in the affected area.
The National Park Service said Monday that crews had recovered two bodies following the flooding. Officials recovered the body of a 46-year-old man Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River before announcing the recovery of a second body Monday, KNAU reported.
Authorities have not publicly identified either person. The National Park Service had not provided an updated count Monday of how many people remained missing or unaccounted for, Reuters reported.
Crews had evacuated 62 people from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail by Sunday morning.
The National Park Service has asked anyone with information about hikers or backpackers who were along the Bright Angel Creek corridor Saturday to contact its Investigative Services Branch.
Giusti’s family asks for prayers
Giusti’s wife asked the ChiroHabit community to pray for her husband, his hiking group and their families while authorities continue searching, according to the family’s statement.
“Dr. John is the heart of ChiroHabit, but above all, he is a deeply loved husband, father and pillar of our family,” she wrote.
The family said it would share additional information once park authorities confirm updates.
Flood damages Grand Canyon infrastructure
Floodwaters caused extensive damage across the inner canyon.
The National Park Service said flooding destroyed nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek. The flood also damaged the Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies water for use throughout the park.
The damage prompted Stage 4 water restrictions on the South Rim beginning Monday and forced the park to halt overnight hotel accommodations.
Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the Phantom Ranch Canteen and cabins, and the entire North Kaibab Trail remained closed after the flooding. Park officials also warned that additional thunderstorms and heavy rainfall could produce more flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall and rapidly changing trail and river conditions.
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