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Grand Canyon rafter goes missing at Clear Creek while trying to save wife

Posted at 8:08 AM, Sep 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-10 14:21:04-04

A 67-year-old man who went missing while rafting at the Grand Canyon on Friday has yet to be found, officials say. 

According to the National Park Service, Mike Howard of Simi Valley, Calif., was rafting Clear Creek with a Canyoneers commercial river trip around 11 a.m. when his wife went into the water while they were disembarking. 

Howard jumped into the river to assist her. The couple swam through the Clear Creek Rapid and Howard's wife was rescued, however, they were unable to reach Howard. His wife was later taken to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment.

Officials say the river trip immediately went to Phantom Ranch to report the incident and crews searched for Howard into the weekend by motorboat and on the ground. 

Crews are now scaling back the search effort due to no additional clues of his whereabouts and increased water turbidity. 

Howard is 6 feet tall, 190 pounds, has blue eyes, gray/brown hair and a long gray beard. He was wearing a yellow T-shirt, shorts and Keen water shoes. 

Anyone with information on the search for Howard is asked to contact National Park Service Silent Witness Line at 928-638-7840.