WEST GLACIER, Mont. (KECI) — Glacier National Park officials confirmed two separate drowning incidents Saturday.
According to officials, a 26-year-old male from India was hiking past the gorge on Avalanche Lake Trail when he was seen going into the creek and taken underwater.
Witnesses on the scene saw the man resurface before being swept under by the current.
Initial calls for help came in at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning and crews were dispatched at 8:37 a.m. followed by law enforcement rangers around 9 a.m.
ALERT helicopters conducted aerial searches of the creek with 10 rangers scouring the area. The body has not been recovered but according to officials, the body is believed to be caught underwater in the gorge and is too dangerous for rangers to enter.
The man was living and working in California and on vacation with friends. Rangers are still monitoring the area.
The second drowning victim was a 28-year-old man from Nepal who was an inexperienced swimmer, according to friends interviewed at the scene.
Reports say he was swimming 30 yards out in Lake McDonald near the Sprague Creek Campgrounds when he started to struggle and went underwater.
Rangers were dispatched and on scene by 6:50 p.m. where his body was located 30 yards offshore and 35 to 40 feet underwater.
The Nepal native was living and working in Portland, OR, and was on vacation.
Names have not yet been released.
Park officials contacted Nepal and India consulates for assistance with contacting next of kin.
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