I was there a couple of years ago. Not surprised to hear of a death, people were way too close to the edge. I have been to the Grand Canyon a few times in the winter. Snow and ice were no deterrent to people climbing over railings, etc.
A few miles away from the South rim of the Grand Canyon is steep gorge cut by the South Colorado river. What is remarkable about it are its steep sides which go straight down probably 1,000 feet to a tiny ribbon of water below. The gorge is less than 100 yards across where I saw it, and the ground leading up to it and away from the other side is almost perfectly level. In the days past, without signs and guardrails, there would have been no warning that you were approaching it, until you went over the edge.