Body is believed to be that of missing hiker

Authorities believe they have found the body of a missing Texas woman at the Grand Canyon.

A body believed to be that of Dr. Sarah Beadle, a Fort Worth-area physician, was located near the Black Bridge at the bottom of the Canyon, about three-quarters of a mile from Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon National Park officials said Thursday morning.

The body was discovered Wednesday afternoon.

Her husband said in a Facebook post that park rangers believe she died of heat exhaustion.

Beadle, 38, an experienced hiker, was reported missing on Aug. 1 after she failed to check into the Bright Angel Campground after hiking down the South Kaibab Trail with two children ages 10 and 11, according to officials.

Scott Beadle said in a Facebook post Wednesday night that his wife had been hiking the Grand Canyon with her daughter and nephew when the girl began to feel dizzy from heat exhaustion, and they had run out of water.

He said Sarah Beadle had left the kids in a safe place while “she went ahead to get water and some help.”

“Somewhere along the trail she made a wrong turn and got lost,” Scott Beadle wrote.

Another hiker found the children, gave them some water and escorted them to the campground.

Beadle’s backpack was found near the junction of South Kaibab Trail and the River Trail, officials said.

The National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner are conducting an investigation.