Experienced Kayaker Dies in Grand Canyon Whitewater Accident

Aaron Benjamin, 30, perished while navigating treacherous rapids in the national park

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A 30-year-old experienced kayaker from Idaho named Aaron Benjamin died on February 19 while navigating whitewater rapids in the Grand Canyon. Benjamin was part of a private 10-person river trip when his raft became caught in a powerful "hole" in the river, causing him to fall into the 40-degree water and not resurface. Despite attempts by his group to perform life-saving measures, Benjamin was pronounced dead at the scene.

Why it matters

Whitewater kayaking in the Grand Canyon is an inherently dangerous activity, even for experienced paddlers, due to the powerful rapids and cold water temperatures. This tragic incident highlights the risks involved and the need for proper safety precautions and emergency response protocols when undertaking such expeditions.

The details

According to officials, Benjamin entered the river at the top of Hance Rapid on the Colorado River at Mile 77 in the Grand Canyon. His raft became stuck in a "hole" in the rapids, causing him to fall into the frigid water. Witnesses said they did not actually see him go over, but could see his empty boat stuck in the rapids. His group attempted CPR for 20 minutes but were unable to revive him.

  • The incident occurred around 11:15 a.m. local time on February 19, 2026.
  • Benjamin's body was recovered on February 23, 2026.

The players

Aaron Benjamin

A 30-year-old experienced kayaker from Post Falls, Idaho who died while navigating whitewater rapids in the Grand Canyon.

Alan DeKalb

A 67-year-old member of the 10-person private river trip that Benjamin was part of, who witnessed the incident and attempted life-saving measures.

Grand Canyon National Park

The national park where the fatal kayaking accident occurred.

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What they’re saying

“Nobody actually saw him go over. People in our group could just see Aaron's empty boat stuck up there.”

— Alan DeKalb, Witness (Outside)

“You couldn't have asked for a better group to do the resuscitation. We followed our Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) protocols, we did 20 minutes of CPR, but eventually we had to pronounce him dead.”

— Alan DeKalb, Witness (Outside)

“He grew up on the river. His parents have done the Grand Canyon multiple times, and Aaron had done it multiple times. Before he could walk, they put a pair of oars in his hands.”

— Alan DeKalb, Witness (Outside)

What’s next

The National Park Service and Coconino County Medical Examiner are continuing to investigate the incident to determine the exact cause of Benjamin's death.

The takeaway

This tragic accident serves as a sobering reminder of the inherent dangers of whitewater kayaking, even for experienced paddlers. It underscores the need for robust safety protocols, emergency response planning, and continuous risk assessment when undertaking such expeditions in remote and treacherous environments like the Grand Canyon.