Current:Home > MyNPS mourns loss of ranger who died on-duty after falling at Bryce Canyon in Utah -Legacy Profit Partners
NPS mourns loss of ranger who died on-duty after falling at Bryce Canyon in Utah
View
Date:2025-04-27 17:11:56
A 78-year-old ranger at the Bryce Canyon National Park died due to injuries he sustained after he tripped and fell while on-duty.
Tom Lorig was working with park visitors, directing them to a shuttle bus, at Bryce Canyon’s annual Astronomy Festival around 11:30 p.m. Friday when he fell and struck his head on a large rock, the National Park Service said in a news release.
A visitor found Lorig unresponsive and immediately alerted a law enforcement ranger. Park rangers, medically trained bystanders, and local EMS personnel provided Lorig with initial lifesaving care but were unable to revive him, NPS said.
Deceased worked was a volunteer park ranger
Lorig, who served as registered nurse in Seattle for 40 years, worked with the NPS as a permanent, seasonal, and volunteer park ranger.
He began his work with the National Park Service at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in June of 1968 and served at 14 national park sites including Badlands, Bryce Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, El Malpais, Florissant Fossil Beds, Glen Canyon, Klondike Gold Rush, Mount Rainier, New River Gorge, Olympic, Saguaro, Yosemite, Zion, and Dinosaur National Monument, "of which he was especially fond," NPS said.
“Tom Lorig served Bryce Canyon, the National Park Service, and the public as an interpretive park ranger, forging connections between the world and these special places that he loved,” said Park Superintendent Jim Ireland, said in a statement.
“As our community processes and grieves this terrible loss, we extend our deepest condolences to all of Ranger Lorig’s family and friends."
Ireland also thanked NPS officials, emergency services staff and local bystanders who helped in administering first-aid to the ranger.
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah, within a couple hours drive of both Zion National Park and Capitol Reef National Park and about four hours from Salt Lake City.
Bryce Canyon is the smallest and highest of Utah's "Mighty 5" national parks at 56 square miles and an average elevation of 8,000 feet (some areas top 9,000 feet above sea level).
Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (33)
Related
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- 'The Bachelorette' contestants: Meet the cast of men looking to charm Jenn Tran
- Packing Solutions for Your Summer Travel: Stay Cute, Comfy & Organized
- A Black medic wounded on D-Day saved dozens of lives. He’s finally being posthumously honored
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Christina Applegate Details Fatalistic Depression Amid Multiple Sclerosis Battle
- Fauci testifies about COVID pandemic response at heated House hearing
- 'Proud to call them my classmates': Pro-Palestinian Columbia alumni boycott reunions
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- 'Proud to call them my classmates': Pro-Palestinian Columbia alumni boycott reunions
Ranking
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- NYC couple says they reeled in $100,000 in cash stuffed inside safe while magnet fishing: Finders keepers
- Former U.S. soldier charged with homicide, robbery in plot to fund fighting trip to Venezuela
- New Mexico primary holds implications for Legislature and prosecutor in Alec Baldwin case
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- Book excerpt: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
- Crime scene analysts testify in trial of woman accused of killing boyfriend with SUV
- Crime scene analysts testify in trial of woman accused of killing boyfriend with SUV
Recommendation
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
South Korea fully suspending military pact with North Korea over trash balloons
Tesla, Ford, Jaguar, Volkswagen, among 289,000 vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts in remote part of national park with low eruptive volume, officials say
Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
Jack Black responds to students' request to attend 'School of Rock' musical production
Christina Applegate Details Fatalistic Depression Amid Multiple Sclerosis Battle
University of Michigan regent’s law office vandalized with pro-Palestinian graffiti