Woman drowns after being swept over Glacier Park waterfall

A Washington state woman has died after being swept over a 30-foot waterfall in Glacier National Park.

According to a Park press release, 33-year-old Abigail Sylvester, of Buckley, Wash., was taking photos along McDonald Creek near the bridge below the upper falls when she slipped and fell into the fast-moving water.

Her husband jumped into the creek in an attempt to save her, but had to self-rescue himself to the creek bank.

A visitor on an interpretive tour in the area saw the woman being carried downstream and a park ranger notified park dispatch. Rangers found the woman near the outlet of McDonald Creek into Lake McDonald, about half a mile from where she fell in. She was carried over Lower McDonald Creek Falls, which is about 30 feet in height.

Three Rivers Ambulance responded to the scene and the ALERT rescue helicopter transported the woman to Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

The cause of death was determined to be drowning.

Several visitors provided assistance during the incident.

A father, mother and teenage son traveling the Going-to-the-Sun Road went to the bridge near the Lower McDonald Creek Falls to search for the woman. The father, a volunteer fireman, spotted something believed to be the woman. He waded into the creek and began swimming in waist-deep water as he was able to retrieve her. His son helped get her on a small island.

The father and son, two other male visitors and park rangers all assisted with and performed CPR.

Park officials remind visitors to use caution around all bodies of water. Water is cold, fast moving and high in most places at this time, and rocks can be very slippery.