Niagara woman dies while hiking in Grand Canyon National Park

A Niagara woman has died while hiking in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, according to the National Park Service (NPS).

Melanie Goodine, 41, was walking out of the canyon on June 2 after hiking to the Colorado River earlier in the day.

The NPS said in a news release they received a report around 5:50 p.m. of a hiker in distress on the Bright Angel Trail above Three-Mile Resthouse. Bystanders also attempted CPR, but all were unsuccessful.

A spokesperson for the Grand Canyon National Park told CNN that shade temperatures in the area reached 35 C to 40 C on June 2.

NPS and the county medical examiner are investigating the death.

Goodine and her fiancé Stephen Spicer were planning to get married next month.

Spicer told CHCH News in a phone interview that Goodine died in her arms as it took emergency responders nearly an hour to arrive.

“She was the most radiant person I’ve ever met in my life,” he said.

Spicer said an autopsy is being performed Monday afternoon.