According to officials, a 26-year-old woman drowned after slipping into a creek at a national park in Montana and was submerged for a number of minutes.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), the woman fell into Virginia Creek between St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls in Glacier National Park late on Sunday afternoon after slipping on slick rocks.
On Tuesday, the agency revealed that the lady was Gillian Tones, a resident of North Apollo, Pennsylvania.
In an update on Tuesday, NPS stated that while witnesses later explained that Tones had slipped and fallen into the creek, they had initially claimed that she had been swept over St. Mary’s Falls.
“Tones was quickly swept up by the cold, fast moving water and went over a series of smaller waterfalls, then was pinned underwater by a log for several minutes until heroic efforts by other park visitors led to pulling her from the river,” NPS stated.
After the event was originally reported, some 25 minutes later, at 5:45 p.m. MT, park rangers arrived on the site following multiple 911 calls to park dispatch, according to NPS.
Read Also: Violence Strikes: Two Shootings Leave 3 Teens and 12-Year-Old Injured in Chicago
Emergency medical staff, park rangers, and bystanders all contributed to the resuscitation effort.
While Tones never recovered consciousness, NPS stated that an ALERT helicopter touched down at approximately 6:20 p.m. MT and that medical personnel also helped with resuscitation efforts. On Sunday, at around 7 p.m. MT, she was declared deceased.
“Numerous bystanders” and first responders were also commended by NPS for their help.
“The park extends their deepest condolences to family and friends of Tones and asks that the public respect their privacy,” NPS stated.
