A devoted father of three has been named as the second person killed in Saturday’s deadly Grand Canyon flash flooding, as crews continue searching for his missing friend.
Brent Rosenkranz, 42, was hiking, camping and exploring the national park with two friends when a powerful storm swept across the area near the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, triggering sudden and destructive floodwaters.
Texas chiropractor John Giusti, 46, was the first member of the group recovered after the disaster. Timothy Smith, 53, the third man on the trip, remains missing.
Rosenkranz, who was also from Texas, was remembered by a family spokesperson as a loving husband and father to three boys. He owned a martial arts studio and was known for pouring his time and energy into mentoring young people.
A GoFundMe campaign launched by his sister, Sarah, has raised nearly $18,000 to support Rosenkranz’s wife, Elisha, and their children.
“There are no words that can truly express the heartbreak of losing a husband, a father, a son, a brother, and a friend in such a sudden and devastating way,” the fundraising page reads.
“Please pray. Pray for Elisha. Pray for her three boys. Pray for our entire family as we walk through this unimaginable loss.”
The catastrophic flash flood struck around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, after intense rainfall sent water surging through the canyon. Dozens of people were eventually airlifted from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail.
Authorities said 82 people were rescued from the canyon, many of them by helicopter, while others managed to hike out.
Cadaver dogs are expected to be used in the coming days to aid in the ongoing search of the flood-ravaged area.
