A chiropractor from Texas, along with his hiking group, has been reported missing following a flash flood that occurred in a remote area of the Grand Canyon. His wife shared this information in a public plea for help.
Dr. John Giusti, who is from Granbury, Texas, was in the canyon hiking and camping when floodwaters surged through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on August 29. In an update posted by Whipple City Family Chiropractic, his wife emphasized the need for prayers for his safety.
The family’s notice indicated that Giusti’s hiking group is “among those currently reported missing and unaccounted for,” as search-and-rescue teams from the National Park Service are actively conducting operations both on the ground and from helicopters.
His wife called upon the ChiroHabit community to keep “my husband, his hiking group, and our families” in their thoughts and prayers, assuring that official updates would follow as confirmed by park authorities.
Photos shared on Giusti’s business page show him enjoying the Grand Canyon prior to the flooding event. His wife described him not just as a respected chiropractor but as a beloved husband and father.
As of now, the National Park Service has not publicly identified around 15 individuals who they are currently attempting to locate. They have yet to confirm Giusti’s status specifically. They are also appealing to anyone who might know of hikers or those who had camping reservations in the Bright Angel Creek corridor on August 29 to reach out to help with the investigation.
Giusti is well-established in his field, having practiced chiropractic for 19 years, and he had been a partner at Whipple City Family Chiropractic in New York for eight years before his relocation to Texas in 2020. He and his wife raise three daughters together. Outside of work, his interests include hiking, hunting, fishing, running, and martial arts.
The flash flood that caused the chaos began around 2:30 p.m. on August 29. Since then, 62 individuals have been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, with no injuries reported as of the latest updates.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs expressed her sympathies for the families impacted by the flooding, stating her heart is with those who are unaccounted for, and noted that the Arizona Division of Emergency Management is working alongside the National Park Service to aid in recovery and search efforts.
