Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, some of which can be disastrous. One such instance happened on February 10, 2023, when Zoe McKinney, a senior in high school and a cheerleader, went on a walk with her friends.
They traveled along the Moab Rim Trail when McKinney lost her footing and fell around 30 feet.
According to an official statement from the Moab City Police Department, McKinney slipped from a steep rock face, prompting her friends to worry. They tried everything possible to reach her, but it was judged risky.
The appropriate authorities were immediately notified, and search and rescue personnel and fire and EMS units worked furiously to reach the location above McKinney.
This is a horrible incident that has shaken the community. The event has affected McKinney’s friends and family in particular. A young life cut short in such a horrific way is a tragedy that has affected everyone’s heart.
An investigation into the events leading up to McKinney’s fall is underway. This incident serves as a reminder to be cautious even when engaging in seemingly innocuous hobbies such as hiking and that disaster can strike at any time.
A high school senior, Amber McKinney, tragically died in a hiking accident. When she arrived at the hospital, she was declared dead, and it took Search and Rescue two hours to recover her body. Lloyd Gist, McKinney’s boyfriend, was not with her when the tragedy happened because he was in Salt Lake City.
Gist said that he and McKinney were inseparable and had been dating for about a year before her death. Gist had fond memories of McKinney as a kind person who was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.
McKinney has a strong desire to help people and be a caring partner. According to her close friend, Iryss Mason, who talked to FOX station KSTU, she was studying for her EMT licensure.
Mason described McKinney as a determined man passionate about serving those in need. McKinney’s unexpected death has saddened her family and community, who are mourning the loss of a compassionate and hardworking young woman.
Following McKinney’s death, the Grand City School District issued a sincere statement expressing their condolences to the family and committing to assist.
To assist the family’s grief process, the district has scheduled therapists to be accessible for pupils on Monday. The community recognized McKinney as an exemplary student, and the district has pledged to honor her legacy for the remainder of her senior year.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help lessen the financial strain that funeral expenditures often entail, and donations poured in, reaching $20,838.
The campaign has subsequently been terminated. All who knew McKinney will remember her fondly, and her loved ones are working to preserve her memory.
Please watch the accompanying video to learn more about the unfortunate event and how loved ones remember McKinney’s life.
