Texas Father Identified After Deadly Grand Canyon Flood As 2 Friends Remain Missing

A Texas father who was swept away in the Grand Canyon flash floods has been identified, while two friends who were traveling with him remain missing. John Giusti, 46, was hiking and camping near the South Rim when heavy rain moved into the area Saturday. His body was recovered from the Colorado River Sunday night, according to the National Park Service.

Giusti’s family confirmed his identity to local news outlets. He was a father of three and ran a chiropractic practice in Granbury, Texas. His family said he loved running, fast cars and comic books, and described him as someone who put a lot of energy into the people and things he cared about.

Giusti’s Family Says He Was “My Whole World”

Giusti’s wife described her husband as a “gifted healer” in his community and a “powerhouse of life” to his friends in a statement to FOX 4.

“To his daughters, he was their ultimate hero. To me, he was my whole world,” she said.

His family also told KPNX 12News that Giusti “poured himself into helping others” and was passionate about the things he loved. He had been in the Grand Canyon when the weather turned Saturday afternoon, bringing dangerous flooding to parts of the canyon.

Two of his friends who were with him remain missing as crews continue searching the area. The National Park Service has asked anyone who was hiking or backpacking along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Aug. 29, or who had a campground reservation in the area, to share any information that could help investigators determine who may have been in the area when the flooding began.

The flooding hit Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area, causing extensive damage throughout the area. Park officials said nearly all of the footbridges over Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, while at least 62 people have been evacuated since the flooding.

Flooding Caused Major Damage Across Grand Canyon

The sudden flooding has also disrupted infrastructure in the park, including its water supply. The Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies water to the Grand Canyon, was damaged during the flooding. The damage prompted the National Park Service to impose Stage 4 water restrictions as officials work to manage the limited water supply.

The restrictions have significantly changed conditions for visitors and residents in the affected Texas areas. They include dry camping without access to water spigots, temporary closures of overnight lodging and a ban on fires in the South Rim and inner canyon areas.

The restrictions come as crews continue assessing the damage caused by the flooding and working to evacuate people from areas that were affected.

The scale of the damage has also complicated efforts to determine exactly how many people may have been caught in the flooding. While many people have been evacuated, the National Park Service has not yet accounted for everyone who may have been in the affected areas when the water surged through the canyon.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said state emergency officials were working with the National Park Service and Coconino County as the search continued. The recovery of Giusti’s body has given his family some answers, but the search for his two friends remains ongoing. Park officials are continuing to ask members of the public to come forward with information about anyone who may have been hiking, camping or backpacking near Bright Angel Creek on Aug. 29.

For Giusti’s family, the search comes as they mourn a father and husband remembered for the energy he brought to his family, his work and the people around him.

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