A Texas father of three captured what appeared to be a joyful vacation moment at the Grand Canyon, smiling for a selfie amid the park’s sweeping rock walls, just one day before he disappeared with his hiking group during deadly flash flooding that has killed at least one person and left roughly 15 others unaccounted for.
Dr. John Giusti, 46, a chiropractor from Granbury, Texas, had been hiking and camping with two friends when intense rainfall triggered a sudden surge of water, mud and debris through Bright Angel Canyon on Saturday.
One of the last images Giusti shared from the trip shows him standing before the Grand Canyon’s dramatic cliffs — a poignant snapshot of the outdoorsman before he vanished in the fast-moving floodwaters.
Giusti’s younger sister, Valerie Gibbs, told The New York Times that it was his first visit to the Grand Canyon.
Family members described him as healthy, energetic and passionate about hiking and running. They said they last heard from him around 2 p.m. Saturday, shortly before the destructive flash floods swept through the area.
His wife, Janet Giusti, issued a desperate plea for prayers after learning that her husband’s hiking group was among those unaccounted for.
“We ask our ChiroHabit community to please lift up my husband, his hiking group, and our families in your thoughts and prayers during this time,” she wrote in a Facebook post that was later deleted, according to the Times.
“Please pray for Dr. John’s safety,” she separately wrote in an update shared by his practice.
Giusti is one of roughly 15 people the National Park Service was still trying to account for Sunday following the flash flood in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area.
Separately, a 46-year-old man was confirmed dead.
His body was recovered Sunday near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, the National Park Service said. Officials have not released his identity.
The disaster unfolded around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, when intense rainfall sent torrents racing through the canyon. More than 60 people were ultimately airlifted from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail.
The flooding obliterated footbridges over Bright Angel Creek, ripped debris and metal structures into the Colorado River and severely damaged infrastructure throughout the canyon. The park’s water pipeline was also knocked out, forcing emergency water restrictions and the closure of overnight accommodations.
The NPS is asking anyone who may have information about hikers or backpackers in the Bright Angel Creek corridor Saturday to contact its Investigative Services Branch.
The request includes people who may have traveled the North Kaibab Trail, stayed at Bright Angel Campground or been in an area known as “the Box” north of Phantom Ranch.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs also offered her support to the families waiting for answers.
“My heart is with the families and loved ones of every person unaccounted for after the flash flooding at the Grand Canyon. DEMA is coordinating with NPS and Coconino County Emergency Management to support search and recovery efforts.
“Thank you to the first responders on the ground working to keep our communities safe when disaster strikes,” she wrote Sunday.
The park remained closed in several affected areas as crews continued the search and assessed the extensive damage.