3 friends went hiking in the Grand Canyon. 1 died, 2 are still missing.

John Giusti’s family remembered him as a devoted father and “my whole world” after flash floods killed him in Grand Canyon National Park. His two companions, Brent Rosenkranz and Timothy Allen Smith, remained missing as rescuers faced more heavy rain.

The three Texas men entered the Grand Canyon on Friday and hiked to Bright Angel Campground, their families said. They planned to spend two nights exploring trails near the bottom of the canyon and fishing before continuing to Havasupai Gardens, a regular stop for hikers and mule trains on the Bright Angel Trail.

Giusti, 46, worked as a chiropractor in Granbury, Texas, and had three daughters. His wife, Janet Giusti, said in a family statement: “To the community, he was a gifted healer. To his friends, a powerhouse of life. To his daughters, he was their ultimate hero. To me, he was my whole world.”

“

To the community, he was a gifted healer. To his friends, a powerhouse of life. To his daughters, he was their ultimate hero. To me, he was my whole world.

Rosenkranz’s family described him as a lifelong martial artist who taught and mentored young people. He owned an ATA martial arts school and had a wife and three sons. Smith, also a husband and father of three, loved the outdoors, hiking and camping with his family, his relatives said.

Dozens of people required rescue after heavy rain caused flash flooding in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area. The families said roughly 15 people were still believed to be missing, while additional rain on Monday prevented rescue teams from continuing their work normally. The families thanked search personnel and asked for continued prayers for Rosenkranz, Smith and others affected by the flooding.

“

Our families are profoundly grateful to the search-and-rescue personnel working to bring our loved ones home and to everyone who has prayed for us, reached out, offered help and surrounded our families with love.