Latest news with #GarfieldCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cat who survived nearly 400-foot fall adopted by rescue pilot who saved her
A cat who survived a nearly 400-foot fall will live the rest of her nine lives with the woman who came to her rescue. As rescue crews searched a ravine at Bryce Canyon National Park for a couple that had fallen over a railing on April 29 they found something they didn't expect: a soft-sided pet carrier covered in dirt. At first, they thought it was just a backpack. But inside was the couple's 12-year-old tabby cat, who survived the 380-foot fall, according to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the animal rescue organization that took her in. The couple, Matthew Nannen, 45, and Bailee Crane, 58, allegedly climbed over a railing at Inspiration Point, which is situated along a high plateau at the top of the park's Grand Staircase, according to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. The couple fell and were killed. MORE: 10-year-old rescue cat becomes a model for Target The cat was bruised, shaken and suffered fractured ribs, according to the rescue organization. After veterinarians became concerned, she was sent to a specialty veterinary hospital in Las Vegas, where she received treatment for fluid in her heart, Salt Lake City ABC affiliate KTVX reported. Staff at the rescue organization named her Mirage because it was a miracle she was alive after falling from such a height. Mirage made a full recovery after receiving emergency care from the veterinary team, Judah Battista, chief sanctuary officer of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, told ABC News. MORE: Viral cat dubbed 'largest cat anyone has ever seen' gets adopted Utah Department of Public Safety pilot Chelsea Tugaw was among the search and rescue team that day and "never forgot" Mirage, the animal sanctuary said. "We couldn't believe the cat was alive. I thought she was injured and was uncertain of her future," Tugaw said in a statement. "It gave me a lot of comfort when I found out she was going to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to get the help she needed." Tugaw came to the rescue again and adopted Mirage -- with a blessing from the family of Mirage's late owners, according to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. "I'm so ecstatic to be taking Mirage home," Tugaw said. "I hope I can give her the perfect retirement life and let her be a nice lazy cat in her old age." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Best Friends Animal Society (@bestfriendsanimalsociety) Mirage has been given a "second chance," Battista said. "This reunion offers a glimmer of hope and light to a tragic beginning, and we're thrilled that Mirage will live out her golden years in such a loving home with Chelsea," Battista said. "We couldn't ask for a better ending for this sweet girl." Battista reminded animal lovers that there are still "countless cats" like Mirage still in need of loving homes. "You can be a hero for them," Battista said. Cat who survived nearly 400-foot fall adopted by rescue pilot who saved her originally appeared on
Miami Herald
02-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
12-year-old cat survives 380-foot fall in Utah national park. ‘Little miracle'
As first responders recovered the bodies of two people who plunged 380 feet to their deaths in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park, they discovered a cat carrier covered in mud nearby. Inside was a 12-year-old cat, who appeared to have survived the nearly 400-foot fall, officials told McClatchy News over the phone Friday, May 2. The soft-sided carrier was dirty and torn, and the cat herself was 'matted and a bit sore,' but both were ultimately intact despite the dramatic plunge. 'She is a little miracle,' Judah Battista told McClatchy News. Battista is the chief sanctuary officer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, which took the cat in for care. A staff member from the sanctuary in Kanab drove about an hour north to pick up the cat and bring her to their clinic for a full examination, where staff discovered she's about 12 years old, 'so she's a senior kitty,' Battista said. Her bloodwork was normal, especially for an animal that had experienced trauma, he said. X-Rays showed she had a couple fractured ribs and canine teeth, but the injuries don't require surgery. 'She's doing very well, drinking and eating on her own and primarily receiving love and care while she recuperates,' Battista said. 'She was definitely a bit overwhelmed by her experience, but she is remarkably sweet and is doing very well.' A video shows staff examining the cat and discussing what she had been through. 'You are one lucky nugget,' someone says as they administer a syringe. Staff have started calling her Mirage, because 'the idea that she survived is like you're seeing things — the unbelievableness of the circumstances,' Battista said. The sanctuary is working with the Garfield County Sheriff's Office to reach out to relatives of the cat's previous owners to see whether they have interest or are capable of bringing her into their home. If not, the sanctuary will handle her care and find an adoptive home for her. 'While her survival is really a silver lining in the whole story, we don't want it to be lost that our hearts go out to their families,' Battista said. 'We're happy to be able to provide the care she needs while those other realities are true.' Battista said he doesn't know how the cat survived the fall. He said he's never seen a case like this before. 'You can Google it and see that cats fall out of high rises and we have gotten cats in the past that were thrown out of a 3rd story window or were thrown from a car in a car accident, but absolutely nothing as dramatic as this and never where the animal was contained in a carrier,' he said. 'I don't know how it happened. It's definitely a miracle.'
Global News
02-05-2025
- General
- Global News
2 people plunge to their deaths from scenic point at Utah national park
Two people have died after a 116-metre fall from a viewing area in southern Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park. Tourists spotted the bodies on Tuesday below Inspiration Point after the two hikers fell late Monday or early Tuesday, according to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. According to the National Park Service's website, Inspiration Point is an area that 'provides a birds-eye view of the world's largest collection of rock spires called 'hoodoos' found within the Bryce Amphitheater.' Police say it is unknown how the man and woman fell but noted that they had crossed over safety railings and that they had their cat with them, who survived the fall. Park rangers, search and rescue teams and a helicopter crew helped recover the bodies. The cat 'was found in a black soft-sided carrier that was dirty and torn, but seemed to have weathered the fall fairly well,' according to the Best Friends Animal Society. Story continues below advertisement Officials identified the two people as Matthew Nannen, 45, and Bailee Crane, 58, according to the New York Times. The two had been living in a U-Haul truck and their last known address was in Florida, according to the outlet. 1:02 Fan in critical condition after falling onto field at Pittsburgh Pirates game The Best Friends Animal Society estimated that the cat is 12 years old. She was found next to Nannen and Crane's bodies. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The cat, who is now named Mirage, was taken to the Pawz Dogs boarding facility on Tuesday but the following day, Best Friends was contacted by the sheriff's office and transported the cat to its Kanab location, according to CBS affiliate KUTV. 'She was matted and a bit sore, but friendly upon examination, as well as drinking and eating on her own,' the Best Friends Animal Society said. Story continues below advertisement It added that the cat's bloodwork showed no signs of abnormality but staff were waiting on X-rays to determine whether she had any other injuries. Bryce Canyon is a colourful maze of spires, cliffs and ravines eroded in soft rock and soil at the edge of a plateau. More than two million people visit the park every year. 3:06 Student dies after slipping and falling at Lynn Canyon Park in North Vancouver This isn't the first time someone has died due to injuries sustained at Bryce Canyon National Park. In June 2024, Tom Lorig, a 78-year-old park ranger, died due to injuries he sustained after he tripped and fell while on duty. Lorig was directing park visitors to a shuttle bus at Bryce Canyon's Astronomy Festival when he fell and struck his head on a large rock. Story continues below advertisement A visitor found Lorig unresponsive and alerted a law enforcement ranger, who contacted local EMS personnel, who tried to provide him with life-saving care but were unable to revive him. — With files from The Associated Press
USA Today
01-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Cat survives apparent fall at Bryce Canyon National Park after 2 found dead
Cat survives apparent fall at Bryce Canyon National Park after 2 found dead A cat has seemingly survived a fall at Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah and is recovering after two people died after falling from a viewing area, officials told USA TODAY. According to Judah Battista, Chief Sanctuary Officer at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, the cat is an approximately 12-year-old tabby, which they have named Mirage. Battista said they were told the cat was found inside a "black soft-sided carrier that was dirty and torn." The cat was found near the bodies of 45-year-old Matthew Nannen and 58-year-old Bailee Crane, who were identified by police, according to a press release from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office sent to USA TODAY. "Remarkably, she has a couple of fractured ribs and the tips of her two canine teeth are broken, but other than that, her blood work came back normal. She is eating and drinking on her own," Battista said. Battista expects that Mirage will make a full recovery, despite the large fall. "She's a very sweet girl doing very well," he said. "It's really remarkable." Two people die after apparent fall at Bryce Canyon According to police, Crane and Nannen fell approximately 380 feet down a cliff after climbing over the railing at Inspiration Point inside the park. Police said they did not know the cause of the fall. Police said tourists spotted the bodies of two people on April 29, below Inspiration Point. Officials said that the two people were living in a U-Haul rental and were last known to be permanent Florida residents before traveling to Utah "after spending a significant amount of time in Arizona." The Garfield County Sheriff's Office did not immediately confirm to USA TODAY on May 1 if Mirage was owned by the deceased pair. Other recent deaths at Bryce Canyon National Park In June 2024, 78-year-old ranger Tom Lorig 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, 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. In 2023, Jeanne Roblez Howell, 64, an Arizona teacher considered "an experienced and enthusiastic hiker," was found dead in Campbell Canyon, after being missing for days. Contributing: Saman Shafiq and Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- USA Today
2 people found dead at Bryce Canyon National Park after apparent fall: Reports
2 people found dead at Bryce Canyon National Park after apparent fall: Reports Two people died at Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah after they fell from a viewing area, police said, according to local news reports. According to a press release from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office shared by local news, tourists spotted the bodies of two people on April 29. The bodies were seen below Inspiration Point inside the park. Police said they currently do not know how the two people fell, but believe they had crossed over safety railings either late on April 28 or early April 29, ABC4 reported. According to ABC4, the two people were identified by officials as 45-year-old Matthew Nannen and 58-year-old Bailee Crane. Officials said that the two people were living in a U-Haul rental but were last known to be permanent Florida residents before traveling to Utah "after spending a significant amount of time in Arizona." Neither the Garfield County Sheriff's Office nor the National Park Service immediately returned USA TODAY's request for comment on April 30. Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah, about 140 miles east of St. George, Utah. Other recent deaths at Bryce Canyon National Park In June 2024, a 78-year-old ranger, Tom Lorig, 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, 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. In 2023, Jeanne Roblez Howell, 64, an Arizona teacher considered "an experienced and enthusiastic hiker," was found dead in Campbell Canyon, after being missing for days. Contributing: Saman Shafiq and Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
