Missing Hiker, 33, Found Dead After Being Swept Away in Grand Canyon Flash Flood That Husband Survived

Chenoa Nickerson's husband was rescued during the Aug. 22 incident, but her body was found three days later

The body of an Arizona woman, who was hiking at Grand Canyon National Park before being swept away in a flash flood last week, has been recovered.

The body of Chenoa Nickerson, 33, was discovered on Sunday, Aug. 25, by a commercial river trip near river mile 176 in the Colorado River, the National Park Service (NPS) said in a news release. 

“Park rangers responded and recovered the body, which was transported to the rim by helicopter and transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner,” officials said.

Related: 2 Women Dead in Connecticut After Being Swept Away by Floodwaters During Tri-State Area Storms

In a previous news release, the NPS said a flash flood struck Havasu Creek on Thursday, Aug. 22, just before 1:30 p.m. local time, leaving several hikers stranded in the affected area. Rescue operations soon began, with a flight commencing before 3 p.m. to help those stranded both below and above Beaver Falls.

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The agency said Nickerson, of Gilbert, Arizona, was swept into the creek about 0.5 miles above the Colorado River confluence. She was not wearing a life jacket, according to the NPS.

Related: Severe Flooding Causes Damage in Yellowstone National Park: Photos

The NPS said in its Aug. 25 statement that it conducted a multi-day search and rescue operation for Nickerson before Nickerson’s body was discovered.

The incident is being investigated by the NPS and the Coconino County Medical Examiner, according to the agency.

Nickerson’s husband was with his wife when they were swept away by the flood, per NBC affiliate KPNX. A group of rafters was able to rescue him, but Nickerson could not be found.

Tamara Morales, Nickerson’s sister, earlier told ABC affiliate KNXV amid the search efforts that the family remained hopeful she would be safely located.

“Her husband Andrew has been rescued and is safe,” Morales said. “We love her very much and are not giving up on her. We want all efforts focused on the search and finding her safely.”

Following the announcement of the recovery of Nickerson’s body, Morales shared a statement on social media, saying the family’s “hearts are heavy with grief.”

“Our family would like to express our sincere and endless gratitude to the men and women of the National Park Service Search and Rescue team for their tireless, selfless, and courageous efforts,” she wrote in a message in a Facebook group post on Aug. 25.

Related: Single Mom Saves 3-Year-Old Son’s Teddy Bear Before 'Forever' Home Destroyed by Floodwaters

“We are profoundly grateful for their dedication and hard work, which have impacted us in ways that words cannot express," her statement continued. "We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has shown us unwavering support and compassion throughout this unimaginable nightmare.”

PEOPLE reached out to Morales on Monday, Aug. 26 for additional comment.

Following the flash flood, the Havasupai Tribe shut down tourism to the Havasupai Falls area indefinitely, The Arizona Republic reported. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs activated the state’s National Guard in response to the flooding, her office announced in an Aug. 23 news release. 

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