Hiker, 26, dies after getting swept over waterfall at Glacier National Park
A 26-year-old Pennsylvania woman visiting Glacier National Park in Montana plunged to her death after falling into a waterfall and drowning, park officials said.
The woman, whose name has not been released, fell into the water Sunday above St. Mary Falls, a 35-foot-high waterfall by a popular hike on the east side of the park, the National Park Service said in a news release.
Witnesses said the young woman was washed over the falls and trapped under the water for several minutes before someone pulled her out below the falls.
The good Samaritan administered CPR on the woman until emergency responders arrived, park officials said.
Park dispatch received numerous 911 calls about the drowning at approximately 5:20 p.m., with park rangers rushing to the scene by 5:45 p.m.
Officials said an ALERT helicopter landed nearby at around 6:20 p.m. and assisted with resuscitation efforts but the woman never regained consciousness.
Resuscitation efforts were called off around 7 p.m. and the woman was pronounced dead, park officials said.
ALERT flew the woman’s body to the 1913 Ranger Station near St. Mary, Montana, and met with the Glacier County coroner at 7:30 p.m.
The woman’s body was taken to the medical examiner in Missoula, Montana for an autopsy.
“Park staff would like to thank Glacier County, ALERT, Babb Ambulance and US Border Patrol for this support, along with numerous bystanders for their immediate assistance,” the national park service said in a statement.
They added: “The park extends their deepest condolences to family and friends of the woman and asks that the public respect their privacy.”
The death is currently under investigation.
Officials say they are notifying woman’s next of kin before releasing her name.
