June 24 – A 26-year-old Pennsylvania woman drowned Sunday afternoon after falling into the water above St. Mary Falls on the east side of Glacier National Park, officials said.
According to witnesses, the woman was washed over the falls and remained trapped underwater for several minutes. Bystanders pulled her out from under the falls and administered CPR until emergency services arrived.
Park rangers and a Babb ambulance team took over CPR upon arrival. The ALERT helicopter landed nearby at approximately 6:20 p.m. and the crew assisted with resuscitation efforts, but the victim never regained consciousness. Resuscitation efforts were called off around 7 p.m. and ALERT personnel pronounced the woman dead.
The park dispatch center received multiple 911 calls for the incident, via Glacier County dispatch, around 5:20 p.m. Park rangers arrived on the scene around 5:45 p.m., officials said.
ALERT flew the woman’s body to the 1913 Ranger Station near St. Mary, where the crew was met by the Glacier County coroner around 7:30 p.m., authorities said. The medical examiner will transport the body to the coroner’s office in Missoula for an autopsy.
The death remains under investigation and additional details are being gathered. Relatives will be notified in advance of the release of the woman’s name, officials said.
Park officials thanked Glacier County, ALERT, Babb Ambulance and U.S. Border Patrol for their assistance in the response, as well as several bystanders for their assistance.
Park officials have offered their condolences to the woman’s family and friends.
