Florida Woman Falls to Her Death at Grand Canyon Hours After Posting Photo of Herself on Cliff Edge

People ^ | 07/12/2016 | Char Adams

[BenLurkin]

Colleen Burns, 35, of Orlando, was hiking with friends near the South Kaibab Trail on Friday when she accidentally slipped off an edge at Ooh Aah Point, Grand Canyon National Park official tells PEOPLE.

Park rangers located her body about 400 feet below where she was standing.

...

One friend who was with Burns on the trail described her final moments to WESH.

"She was just, like, stepping out of the way for another gentleman to, kind of, squeeze in," Jessica Roman told the station. "Unfortunately, Colleen just kind of got tripped up on her own feet and fell backwards. She fell into the canyon."

[mountn man]

The book store on the rim of the canyon has a book on people killed in the canyon. It is a dangerous place if one is not careful.

The book store???

[Still Thinking]

Meh. She might have had more. Her personal contribution is now done.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I would die of fright befoe I ever hit bottom.

[rlmorel]

Heh, I am getting to the point I am thrilled if I can lay in my hammock and get some rest!

[Night Hides Not]

So we're being told the National Park Service is profiting from these tragedies?

/sarc

[Boogieman]

“She was just, like, stepping out of the way for another gentleman to, kind of, squeeze in,”

---

There are times when single file really means single file...

[CedarDave]

I’m not sure about the Kaibab trail, but on the Bright Angel, the mules have the right-of-way and you are required to stand on the outside (cliff side) when they pass. If you see them coming, find a wide spot early on.

[mountn man]

I don't have such a fear, but when we were on the observation floor of the Sears Tower (now called Wyllis or something)

It's called The What You Talkin Bout Willis Tower

[hal ogen]

From the north side (AZ) drive out to Toroweep (google it). It is about 75 miles of dirt road followed by about 7 miles of rock. A 4 wheel drive will get you there. You can drive close to the unguarded edge or walk right up to it. There is usually no one there. The cliff is about 3600 feet. Pretty cool.

[MeganC]

I was literally just there in April and it amazed me how many people went beyond the safety rails so they could go stand in some really dangerous places for selfies. I feel sorry for this lady but she didn’t treat the place as the very dangerous place that it really is.

[Gasshog]

Ooooh ooh Ooooh

AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

[mountn man]

Oops...got to print a new edition.

Gotta add another name

[Robert DeLong]

That you do, lucky man you are.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I'll never find out if my wife feels the same, LOL.

[CIB-173RDABN]

The book store in the Visitor Center on the south rim of the grand canyon (I did not think I had to specify as it was just a trow away comment)

[Moltke]

BTDDT

(been there didn’t do that)

[meadsjn]

400 feet, about right to reach terminal velocity, about 120 mph. That’ll work.

[Night Hides Not]

Gallows humor is how many of us get through life.

I've tempted fate on many occasions, such as going through Jump School at Fort Benning. However, I have supreme respect for Mother Nature.

[MeganC]

Book stores can be VERY dangerous places what with all those opportunities for a really wicked paper cut!

[GreenHornet]

This type of tragedy is happening more and more.

One of the unintended consequences for those in the "Selfie Generation."

Yes, she obviously did something very foolish, but it's still a tragedy. Prayers for her family and those who witnessed this horrible accident.

[mountn man]

I work in construction. Often times at heights, in precarious positions.

Often times I come home EXHAUSTED
Not because the work itself was so strenuous, but because my butt was clenched so tight, for 8-10-12 hours.

I know intimately about gallows humor. It's often how we get ourselves and "support" each other, through what has to be done.