Ranger working astronomy festival falls and dies at Bryce Canyon, Utah officials say

A park ranger working at an astronomy festival at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah died after falling and hitting his head on a large rock, according to officials.

Ranger Tom Lorig, 78, was working at Bryce Canyon’s annual Astronomy Festival around 11:30 p.m. on June 7 when he tripped and fell as he was directing a visitor to a shuttle bus, according to a news release from the National Park Service.

Lorig hit his head on a large rock, leaving him unresponsive, the park service said. The visitor quickly notified another ranger, and first responders worked on Lorig but were unable to revive him.

“Tom Lorig served Bryce Canyon, the National Park Service, and the public as an interpretive park ranger, forging connections between the world and these special places that he loved,” park superintendent Jim Ireland said in the news release.

Lorig was a registered nurse for 40 years in the Seattle area, the NPS said. He was also a permanent, seasonal and volunteer park ranger for 10 years.

He started out working at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in June of 1968. He went on to serve at 14 national park sites including Badlands, Bryce Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, El Malpais, Florissant Fossil Beds, Glen Canyon, Klondike Gold Rush, Mount Rainier, New River Gorge, Olympic, Saguaro, Yosemite, Zion and Dinosaur National Monument.

“As our community processes and grieves this terrible loss, we extend our deepest condolences to all of Ranger Lorig’s family and friends,” Ireland said.