This brings up the question of why the PLB wasn't used?

Clearly there was a risk of life situation so its use would have been warranted. PLB testing by Doug indicates that it should have done a good job of providing location, though obviously it would not have indicated the details of the situation.

Just wondering.

I wasn't there, but if SPOT and VHF radio communications were getting out, I would not be inclined to trigger the PLB.

Here is a summary of a recent, more unfortunate operation by Grand Canyon. This is at least the second such fall from the South Rim within the last year. Busy lads, those helitackers...

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Visitor Falls To Death At Mather Point

Park dispatch received a report early yesterday afternoon that someone had fallen off the rim at Mather Point on the South Rim.

The park helitack crew located the body about 400 feet below the rim. Recovery operations were underway at the time of the report.

Mather Point was closed to the public and was to remain closed until further notice.

Great write-up and video, glad everything turned out positive, and that the folks will be okay. I'm surprised to hear that more comm'l flights aren't routinely monitoring 121.5 MHz. Even so, being in the bottom of a canyon using a line-of-sight, low power (probably 5W) handheld radio likely limited your range quite a bit. Amazing you were able to reach a flight and have everything handed off so well. Kudos!