Cedar City man dies in fall near Zion National Park

A Utah man died Sunday when he fell while hiking in a remote area just east of Zion National Park.

Jeffrey Bowden, 55, of Cedar City, fell about 20 feet and hit his head, according to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.

Bowden was hiking with a friend Sunday afternoon in a backcountry route known as Fat Man’s Misery. The friend “attempted to soften the landing,” according to a news release, and “sustained minor injuries” doing so. She tried to help Bowden, who died as a result of the fall, then “began the long process of hiking out” to contact help.

Search and rescue teams located Bowden on Monday, and used a helicopter to hoist his body out.