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🇮🇳 India /Disasters & Emergencies

Three Women Survive Deadly Grand Canyon Flood After Clinging to Ledge for Five Hours

From Times of India · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Sisters Jessica Buscher and Melanie McGuirk and their friend Katie Brink became trapped by a flash flood in Bright Angel Canyon.
  • The women clung to a rock ledge for about five hours and briefly lost sight of one another, fearing that some had been swept away.
  • A rescue helicopter later located them and transported them to safety during a wider Grand Canyon emergency that caused other deaths.

A routine hike through the Grand Canyon became a five-hour fight for survival when a sudden flash flood sent muddy water, rocks and debris through the canyon. Jessica Buscher, Melanie McGuirk and their friend Katie Brink took shelter on a rock ledge and held on as the storm intensified.

The women were separated during the flood and each feared the others had been swept away. Brink later described holding on “just with my fingertips” as mud repeatedly splashed over her. McGuirk recalled hearing boulders roll through the canyon while the ground shook beneath them.

For about 20 minutes, Brink believed she was alone. The sisters eventually saw her again as she came around a bend in the trail, bringing relief after all three had feared they had lost one another. They remained stranded for hours before a rescue helicopter spotted them and carried them to safety.

The rescue formed part of a larger emergency response across the Grand Canyon. The wider flooding disaster claimed other lives.

Just with my fingertips

· Katie BrinkBrink described how she held on to the rock ledge during the flood.
About this summary

Originally published by Times of India in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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