A software company CEO was identified as the canyoneer who accidentally fell between 50 and 60 meters and died in Zion National Park in Utah.
The man, identified as 40-year-old Justin Bingham, was canyoneering through Heaps Canyon with three others before he fell and was pronounced dead on Saturday, the National Park Service said. Bingham was the CEO of the Lindon, Utah-based software company Opiniion.
“Justin was a visionary who believed in the power of real connections, both with our customers and within our team,” according to an announcement from Opiniion. “His dedication to building meaningful relationships has had a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him. Justin’s adventurous spirit and commitment to living life to the fullest will be greatly missed.”
“If you spent any time around him, he was the eternal optimist,” Devin Shurtleff, the company’s co-founder and COO, said in the announcement. “Justin was not only a leader here at Opiniion, he was a mentor. , a father and a friend to many of us. He believed that the relationships we build give this work meaning, and he truly lived that every day.
‘We never doubted His love for us’
In an Instagram post shared by Opiniion, the company said Bingham was “doing what he loved this weekend” and called him “a friend, a mentor, an example of hard work (but) most of all, he was family.”
“Justin knew all of us by name and made it a point when he came into the office to say hello to everyone individually, every day,” the post continued. “We never doubted his love for us and those he interacted with. We will always remember his optimism, his kindness and the hard work that brought Opiniion to where it is today.”
How did Justin Bingham die?
The Zion National Park Search and Rescue Team and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to Heaps Canyon and attempted to save Bingham’s life.
According to the NPS, a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter picked up the Bingham. It took him to an area near Watchman Campground where Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue and Intermountain Life Flight continued to provide assistance, park officials said.
Attempts to save Bingham’s life were unsuccessful.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” Zion National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said in a news release.
According to park officials, two of the three remaining canyoneers were extracted by a DPS helicopter on Sunday morning. Zion’s search and rescue team helped the third canyoneer descend the canyon, and the person reached the ground safely at 2 p.m. that day.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opiniion CEO Justin Bingham dies after fall in Zion National Park
