A 26-year-old Pennsylvania woman who was visiting Glacier National Park in Montana fell over a waterfall and drowned, park officials said.
The woman, whose name has not been released, fell into the water above St. Mary Falls, a 35-foot waterfall near a popular hiking trail on the east side of the park on Sunday. the National Park Service said in a news release.
Witnesses said the young woman was swept over the falls and was trapped underwater for several minutes before someone managed to pull her out from under the water.
Park officials said the good Samaritan performed CPR on the woman until emergency responders arrived.
The park’s dispatch center received multiple 911 calls about the drownings around 5:20 p.m., and park rangers were on scene by 5:45 p.m.
An ALERT helicopter landed nearby around 6:20 p.m. and assisted with resuscitation efforts, but the woman never regained consciousness, authorities said.
Resuscitation efforts were stopped around 7 p.m. and the woman was pronounced dead, park officials said.
Alert airlifted the woman’s body to Ranger Station 1913 near St. Mary, Montana, where she met with the Glacier County Coroner at 7:30 p.m.
The woman’s body was taken to the medical examiner in Missoula, Montana, for an autopsy.
“Park officials would like to thank Glacier County, ALERT, Babb Emergency Services, U.S. Border Patrol and the numerous bystanders who provided immediate assistance,” the National Park Service said in a statement.
“The park extends its deepest condolences to the woman’s family and friends and asks the public to respect her privacy,” it added.
The cause of death is currently under investigation.
Authorities say they will notify the woman’s next of kin before releasing her name.
