ST. GEORGE —The Washington County Sheriff's Office has identified the missing paraglider whose body was recovered Monday as Jonathan Grant Thompson, a Hurricane resident known for his popular science YouTube channel.
Thompson, 38, was paragliding near Sand Hollow State Park and reported as overdue by a friend, according to a statement from the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
By 9 p.m., officers from the Hurricane Police Department and the Bureau of Land Management responded to Thompson's last known GPS location. Washington County Search and Rescue and a medical helicopter were later requested.
"Dispatchers were able to obtain an updated GPS location of the pilot's cellphone. As the helicopter approached the area, they were able to locate the pilot's body," according to the sheriff's office.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation Tuesday.
Thompson is known for his YouTube channel "King of Random," which is dedicated to "exploring life through all kinds of life hacks, experiments and random weekend projects." Videos such as "How to Open Coconuts Without any Tools" and "Turning Coal Into Diamonds, Using Peanut Butter" amassed tens of millions of views.
"We're deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of Grant Thompson, a gifted, passionate and endlessly curious creator," YouTube said in a statement Tuesday. "We send our deepest condolences to his loving family, The King of Random team and fans."
"RIP to the legend Grant Thompson," VidCon said in a statement. "Thank you for inspiring and touching so many of us with your curiosity, creativity and passion. You will be forever missed."
An "In Memorium" video for Thompson was posted to the King of Random channel on Tuesday.
"Please do a random act of love or kindness today in honor of The King of Random," the video's caption states. "Grant’s legacy will live on in the channel and the global community he created."