Man drowns in McDonald Creek

Hungry Horse News

A 43-year-old Everett, Wash. man is dead after he fell into McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park Monday night.

The man, whose name was not immediately released, was in the water more than 3 hours before his body was recovered by the Flathead County Dive Team.

The man was at the platform pullout at the McDonald Creek Falls. He was not on the platform, however. He was on the rocks near the platform when he fell in. The falls run through a torrent chute and then the creek largely flattens out not too far below them. People have fallen in the falls in the past and survived.

One member of his party witnessed him fall in and then went to Lake McDonald Lodge to call 9-1-1 for help. The county then dispatched the call to the Park about 4 p.m. He was recovered at 6:43 p.m. in 21-feet of water in a pool at the base of the falls.

Divers had to rappel down into the gorge area to retrieve his body, which was held down by the swift current.

The platform area has several warning signs posted about rocks near the falls being slippery and dangerous.

Drowning is the most common cause of death in the Park. Since 1913, 52 people have drowned in Glacier, according to Park records.