Park Ranger Tom Lorig, tragically lost his life while doing what he loved at Bryce Canyon National Park.
At 78 years old, Tom Lorig was still passionately serving as a ranger during Bryce Canyon’s annual Astronomy Festival. On Friday night, around 11:30 p.m., Lorig was assisting visitors when he directed someone to a shuttle bus. Unfortunately, he tripped, fell, and hit his head on a large rock. Despite the quick response from a nearby law enforcement ranger, medically trained bystanders, and local EMS, Lorig couldn’t be revived.
This is sad.
A park ranger from Bryce Canyon National Park has died from his injuries after tripping and falling while on duty.
Tom Lorig, 78, was working during Bryce Canyon’s annual Astronomy Festival on Friday night. According to the National Park Service, Lorig was… pic.twitter.com/IC89kHdGbu
— Tired of being politically correct (@USBornNRaised) June 10, 2024
Park Superintendent Jim Ireland expressed the collective grief and respect felt by the community. “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 a statement.
“As our community processes and grieves this terrible loss, we extend our deepest condolences to all of Ranger Lorig’s family and friends. We also want to express gratitude to the National Park Service and Garfield County emergency services staff who responded as well as to the bystanders who assisted NPS first responders.”
The Bryce Canyon NPS Facebook page honored Lorig with a heartfelt post: “Tom was a dedicated public servant, and his loss will be felt by the many who knew him across the National Park Service.”
It is with great sadness that we share news of a loss to our park community.
Last night, Park Ranger Tom Lorig died from injuries sustained after tripping and falling while on-duty.
A news release is available at https://t.co/U4Wg9c5npQ pic.twitter.com/qvuwyLpg9D— Bryce Canyon National Park (@BryceCanyonNPS) June 8, 2024
Tom Lorig’s dedication to service was profound. He worked as a registered nurse in Seattle for 40 years and spent over a decade as a permanent, seasonal, and volunteer park ranger. His journey with the National Park Service began in June 1968 at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico.
Throughout his illustrious career, he served at 13 different national park sites, including Badlands, Bryce Canyon, El Malpais, Florissant Fossil Beds, Glen Canyon, Klondike Gold Rush, Mount Rainier, New River Gorge, Olympic, Saguaro, Yosemite, Zion, and Dinosaur National Monument.
