LOS ANGELES, March 28 (Xinhua) -- A Macao tourist died Thursday after a fall while visiting the Grand Canyon in the United States, said a spokesman of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles.
The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles contacted American police and confirmed the death of the Macao tourist, said the spokesman.
"The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles expressed deep regret over the death of the tourist and will provide necessary assistance in the aftermath," he told Xinhua.
The tourist, in his 50s, slipped and fell hundreds of feet into the Grand Canyon from a lookout while taking pictures near the rim at Eagle Point, a popular tourist destination, reported local media, some of which initially identified the tourist as a Hongkonger.
A helicopter located the man's body at the bottom of the canyon. His body was transported by helicopter to the nearest hospital, a spokesperson for Grand Canyon West was quoted by local media as saying.
The area was closed for the day, according to the spokesperson. The identity of the dead tourist has not been made public yet.
The Eagle Point is a remote site best known for the Skywalk, a horse-shoe shaped glass bridge that juts out from the canyon wall. Signs at Eagle Point warn tourists not to get too close to the edge.
The Grand Canyon in the western U.S. state of Arizona is famous for its steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, drawing nearly 6.4 million visitors last year.
According to the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, over 80,000 Chinese tourists visited Arizona in 2017. The Consulate General has warned Chinese citizens to be aware of security risks while traveling in the state, including traffic accidents, heat, draught and bush fire.
According to a report of the Arizona Office of Tourism, Arizona had 5.56 million international overnight visitors in 2018, and China is currently the sixth largest source country of tourists.
