Man believed drowned in Glacier National Park

Rangers in Glacier National Park responded around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to a report of a man drowning in Pray Lake.

Witnesses reported they had seen the man struggling in the lake, and then go underneath the water, according to a park news release. Rangers dove into the lake to locate the victim, but were unable to find him. National Park Service and visitor boats searched the lake until dark, but did not find the man, the park said Wednesday morning. Local dive team resources were unable to respond Tuesday because they were already assigned to another drowning outside the park. Searching began again Wednesday at first light, with National Park Service searchers, the Flathead County Dive Team and Blackfeet Tribal Police participating, the park reported. Witnesses said it appeared the man might have gone into the lake to retrieve a dog. The dog has died, the park said.

The victim is a 64-year-old man who is a resident of Edmonton, Canada. The National Park Service will release his name once family notifications have been completed.

The area immediately around Pray Lake will be closed to visitors while the search continues.

Pray Lake is located in the Two Medicine area of the park, next to the Two Medicine Campground. It’s relatively small, 700 feet long and about 400 feet wide. The area near the inlet where the man was last seen is about 20 feet deep.