Another man lives after falling into the canyon

For the second time in two weeks, Grand Canyon National Park rangers had to venture over the edge of the rim to save a visitor.

Coincidentally, the 40-year-old man from Phoenix went over the rim in the same spot as a 31-year-old Texas man did on Aug. 11 — west of Mather Point.

And incredibly, both men survived their falls. The man in the latest incident, ruled to be a suicide attempt, fell more than 100 feet. He reportedly took a running jump into the Canyon, landing on a six- to-10-foot ledge below.

Search and Rescue rangers had easier access to the latest incident. The first fall victim was situated in brush in a difficult position.

The man suffered upper-body injuries. He was flown to Flagstaff Medical Center via Angel One, the NPS emergency helicopter.

Rangers found out about the possible suicide after being contacted about a note that had been left by the

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the man. Rangers located his vehicle west of Mather Point and found out he had jumped below.

Rangers Mike O’Neil and Matt Vandzura descended into the Canyon to stabilize the man. He was short-hauled out of the situation via helicopter and taken to FMC.

The last report of his condition was critical but stable.

National Park Service officials are concerned about the two recent incidents and caution people about the dangers near the edge of the Canyon.

Sandra Perl, spokeswoman for GCNP, said the two fall incidents involving survivors of such falls are extremely rare. The high majority of the time, such incidents end with a fatality.