PICTURED: Man, 20, who plunged 400ft to his death at Grand Canyon - as cause of fatal fall revealed

A 20-year-old college student accidentally fell 400 feet to his death after hiking off trail at the Grand Canyon.

Abel Joseph Mejia of Hickory, North Carolina, was found by National Park Service (NPS) workers 400 feet 'below the rim' of the Pipe Creek Overlook around 10:30am on Wednesday, NPS said in a press release. 

'Mr. Mejia was near the edge of the rim when he suffered an accidental fall,' NPS said. 

Grand Canyon National Park spokesperson Joelle Baird told AZ Family that Mejia was hiking off-trail, 'which is a pretty common place occurrence for a lot of our visitors here.'

The National Park Service, which is currently investigating the death, reminds parkgoers to 'always keep a safe distance of at least six feet (2m) from the edge of the rim and stay behind railings and fences at overlooks.' 

Turning Point Pentecostal Church said in a Facebook post that Mejia was on a 'missions trip' when the fatal fall occurred. 

Abel Joseph Mejia of Hickory, North Carolina, was found by National Park Service (NPS) workers 400 feet 'below the rim' of the Pipe Creek Overlook around 10:30am on Wednesday

'Mr. Mejia was near the edge of the rim when he suffered an accidental fall,' NPS said

The recovery of Mejia's body was 'intensive' and involved 30 people, Baird told AZ Family.

Responders were able to spot the young man within 15 minutes of being notified of the fall, but it took longer to extract him.

Mejia attended Indiana Bible College, which paid tribute to the young scholar and his 'warm smile and gentle spirit.' 

'His absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him,' the school wrote in a Facebook post. 

Grand Canyon spokesperson Joelle Baird told AZ Family that Mejia's rescue mission was 'intensive' and involved 30 rescuers. Rescuers eventually pulled his body out of the canyon using a high-angle technical rescue system (pictured)

'Let us all join together in prayer for the entire Mejia family during this difficult time. May God bring comfort and peace to all who are grieving.'

There have been nine deaths in the Grand Canyon this year due to cardiac issues, natural causes, suicide, and more, Baird said.

The last time a fatal fall occurred at the Grand Canyon was in 2022,she noted.

Grand Canyon National Park is considered one of the most dangerous in the country and around 17 people die per year, according to NPS. 

More than 4million people visit each year.