Pennsylvania Woman Dies After Plunging Into Waterfall at Glacier National
A 26-year-old woman from Pennsylvania tragically died after falling into a waterfall at Glacier National Park in Montana, park officials announced.
The incident occurred on Sunday when the woman, whose name has not been released, fell into the water above St. Mary Falls, a 35-foot-high waterfall on the east side of the park. Witnesses reported that she was washed over the falls and trapped underwater for several minutes before being pulled out by a good Samaritan.
The bystander performed CPR until emergency responders arrived. Park dispatch received multiple 911 calls about the drowning around 5:20 p.m., and park rangers arrived on the scene by 5:45 p.m. An ALERT helicopter landed nearby at approximately 6:20 p.m. and assisted with resuscitation efforts, but the woman never regained consciousness.
Resuscitation attempts were ceased around 7 p.m., and the woman was pronounced dead. Her body was transported by ALERT 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 then taken to the medical examiner in Missoula, Montana, for an autopsy.
The National Park Service expressed gratitude to Glacier County, ALERT, Babb Ambulance, US Border Patrol, and numerous bystanders for their immediate assistance. "The park extends their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the woman and asks that the public respect their privacy," the statement read. The incident is currently under investigation, and officials are notifying the woman’s next of kin before releasing her name.
