Glacier National Park on Tuesday released more details about the rescue of three people who fell into Avalanche Creek on Sunday.
Park officials said in a news release that just after 7 p.m. park dispatch received several satellite SOS reports stating that individuals had fallen into Avalanche Creek, and that CPR was being performed on two of the individuals.
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A group of four visitors from Florida were gathering for a photo on the rocks above Avalanche Gorge when one individual slipped and fell into the water, a second and third person trying to help also fell in.
Two of the individuals were swept through the gorge while one was able to grab ahold of tree branches in the gorge, waiting for help.
Rangers responded to find both individuals responsive, as bystanders performing CPR were successful in resuscitating the two individuals that had been swept through the gorge.
The first ranger on scene was informed of an individual that was trapped in the gorge.
The ranger was able to rappel to the individual and secure the person while the technical rescue team was assembled and retrieved both the individual and the ranger.
All patients were taken to Logan Health in Kalispell. One patient was transported by ALERT, the second patient by Three Rivers Ambulance, and the third patient by Whitefish Ambulance.
All members involved are in stable condition.
The park thanked park visitors for their heroic efforts that saved two lives, Three Rivers Ambulance, ALERT and the Whitefish Fire Department.
(1st REPORT) Three people were rescued after falling into a gorge along Avalanche Lake Trail in Glacier National Park.
The Whitefish Fire Department said two of the people were swept into Avalanche Creek, with another hanging onto a tree above the fast-moving water.
Several agencies worked together to rescue the three people and take them to a hospital.
Two of the people were taken by ground ambulance, and one patient was transported by an ALERT helicopter.
One of the first responders, Sal Baccaro, said that the victim that the Whitefish Fire Department was responsible for taking to a hospital is in good condition, but couldn't speak for the other two victims' conditions.
Baccaro says the fire department's rescue was executed smoothly due to great teamwork between all the responders involved.
"We are a very small department so we definitely rely on our mutual aid partners on a regular basis as well as help out our mutual aid partners on a regular basis. I think communications went really smooth, honestly, especially for how many how many agencies were involved," Baccaro said. "Yeah, I think communications went really smooth. Everyone knew exactly where they needed to go, what they needed to do, and the mission got accomplished and you know as timely of a manner as it could have happened.
There is no word on any injuries the three people sustained.
No other information has been released.
