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Tourist Almost Falls Off Grand Canyon Cliff Edge While Taking Photo Of Mum

Tourist Almost Falls Off Grand Canyon Cliff Edge While Taking Photo Of Mum

Emily Koford and her mother Erin were visiting the picturesque landmark and decided to stop to take pictures

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Unnerving footage shows the moment a tourist almost fell from a cliff edge in the Grand Canyon while trying to take a photo of her mum.

Emily Koford and her mother Erin were visiting the picturesque landmark - which is in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - and decided to stop to take pictures.

In the video clip, you can see 20-year-old Emily standing back to try and get the stunning scenery in the picture of her mum.

Emily, who is from Austin, Texas, then takes a large step back - not realising that the small area of clifftop they're standing on cuts in slightly, meaning there is no path for her foot to step down onto.

Stumbling, Emily thankfully manages to move herself forward and regains her balance, placing her hand on the floor to steady herself.

Mum Erin then rushes over and grabs Emily, shaking her.

Erin told ABC News: "She kept going backwards. I looked out and I saw how close she was to the edge and I said, 'Don't take another step back,' and she did.

"My stomach went up into my chest."

Emily and Erin Koford.
ABC

Erin explained that Emily had assumed she was telling her not to step back anymore for the photo, but didn't realise the warning had been for her safety.

Erin added: "I don't think she was really aware of how dangerous that was. I could see exactly what would happen if she fell."

Kevin Fox, the passerby who took the video, said he had filmed the drama as it unfolded as a way of showing his kids 'the stuff you don't do'.

"Then they're walking around and I think, this doesn't look good," Fox told ABC.

"As she starts walking backwards, I just gasp."

Grand Canyon.
PA

According to the Grand Canyon's website, there are around 12 deaths each year at the canyon.

Park spokeswoman Kirby-Lynn Shedlowski said on average two to three deaths per year are from falls over the rim, while other causes include medical problems, suicide, heat, drowning, traffic crashes and natural causes.

Advising tourists to take care in the area, the website warns: "Photography can be a beautiful part of a visitor's experience to the Grand Canyon, but it's important to always ask yourself if the photo is worth dying for.

"Many times photographers climb out on the edge to frame their picture without any people or man-made structures. Though the picture might be a nice souvenir, it's also a life-threatening situation to be in.

"So next time you want to click the shutter make sure to take a second and step back and ask yourself, 'is this really worth my life?'"

Featured Image Credit: ABC

Topics: News, US News, travel