Tree-well victim transported to hospital
Skiers glide down Whitetail on the north side of Big Mountain. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot file)
Whitefish Mountain Resort ski patrol assisted in the rescue of a person who was found in a tree well outside of the resort boundary on Friday.
According to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino, the victim is a man from Kalispell.
According to information from the resort, ski patrol members were alerted to the incident at 12:05 p.m. Ski patrol skied the last known area where the individual was said to have been seen and found the person in a tree well around 1:35 p.m.
CPR was performed on scene and as the patient was transported to North Valley Hospital's Base Lodge Clinic.
Two Bear Air and ALERT helicopters were dispatched but it was determined that ground transportation via toboggan was the most efficient mode of transport. After the patient arrived at the clinic Big Mountain ambulance transported the patient to the hospital.
No details were provided about the person's condition.
Whitefish Mountain Resort reminds people to ski with a buddy and with a whistle. For more information on tree well safety can be found here.