A tragic incident unfolded at Glacier National Park in Montana when a 26-year-old woman from Pennsylvania lost her life after falling into a waterfall. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was visiting the park and fell into the water above St. Mary Falls, a popular hiking spot on the park’s east side, according to the National Park Service.
Eyewitnesses reported that the woman was swept over the falls and remained submerged for several minutes before a bystander managed to pull her out from below the falls. The individual who rescued her immediately began performing CPR until emergency services arrived on the scene.
The park’s dispatch center received multiple 911 calls about the incident around 5:20 p.m. Park rangers were on the scene by 5:45 p.m. An ALERT helicopter landed nearby at approximately 6:20 p.m. to assist with resuscitation efforts. Despite these efforts, the woman did not regain consciousness.
By 7 p.m., resuscitation attempts were halted, and the woman was declared dead. The ALERT helicopter transported the woman’s body to the 1913 Ranger Station near St. Mary, Montana, where they met with the Glacier County coroner at 7:30 p.m. The body was later taken to the medical examiner in Missoula, Montana for an autopsy.
The National Park Service expressed gratitude to Glacier County, ALERT, Babb Ambulance, and the US Border Patrol for their support during the incident. They also thanked the bystanders who provided immediate assistance. The park service extended their deepest condolences to the woman’s family and friends and requested the public to respect their privacy.
The incident is currently under investigation. The woman’s next of kin are being notified before her identity is released to the public.