Tragic Incidents Two Men Drown in Glacier National Park

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Tragic Incidents Two Men Drown in Glacier National Park

Two men tragically lost their lives in Glacier National Park during the July 4th holiday weekend.

WEST GLACIER, Mont. (AP) — Glacier National Park officials reported the drowning deaths of two men over the July 4th holiday weekend.

On Saturday morning, a 26-year-old man from India was hiking on Avalanche Lake Trail when he ventured near Avalanche Creek. He slipped on rocks and was swept away by the icy, fast-flowing water. Witnesses saw him briefly reappear before he was carried through a narrow gorge around 8:30 a.m.

Despite efforts by a helicopter crew and park rangers, the search was hindered by high water levels from snowmelt and poor visibility. Park officials believe the man's body is trapped underwater in the gorge. The search has been scaled back due to hazardous conditions, with rangers continuing to monitor the area.

The victim had been residing and working in California and was visiting the park with friends.

Later that day, a 28-year-old man from Nepal was swimming with friends in Lake McDonald near Sprague Creek Campground. According to his friends, he was not a strong swimmer. While swimming about 30 yards (27 meters) from the shore, he began to struggle and went under around 6:25 p.m.

Park spokeswoman Gina Icenoggle explained that while the lake is shallow near the shore, there is a significant drop-off in the area where the man went under. The Flathead County Sheriff's Office dive team recovered his body from 35 to 40 feet (11 to 12 meters) of water at approximately 8:20 p.m.

The man had been living and working in Portland, Oregon, and was also on vacation with friends.

Park officials have reached out to the consulates of Nepal and India to assist in notifying the victims' families. The names of the deceased have not been released.

According to park officials, drowning remains the leading cause of death in Glacier National Park.

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