Woman swept over Lower McDonald Creek Falls

Glacier National Park dispatch was notified of a woman who had fallen into McDonald Creek, near the upper falls and was being carried downstream around 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 12.

Initial investigation indicates a 33-year old woman from Buckley, Wash., was with her husband along McDonald Creek, near the bridge below the upper McDonald Creek Falls, when she slipped and fell into the creek.

The current swept her downstream. Her husband jumped into the creek in an attempt to save her but ended up heading for the safety of the creek bank instead.

A visitor on an interpretive tour saw the woman being carried downstream, and the interpretive ranger leading the tour notified park dispatch of the situation.

Park rangers responded to find the woman near the outlet of McDonald Creek into Lake McDonald, approximately half a mile from where she fell in. She had been swept over Lower McDonald Creek Falls.

Park rangers and others in the vicinity performed CPR. Three Rivers Ambulance and the ALERT helicopter responded to the scene. ALERT transported the woman to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, but her condition is unknown at this time.

An investigation is underway by Park rangers. Visitors to Glacier Park are reminded to use caution around all bodies of water. In most places at this time, streams are cold, fast moving and high, and rocks can be very slippery. Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death in the Park.