Tragedy struck at Glacier National Park during the July 4 holiday weekend as two men, including one from Portland, Oregon, drowned in separate incidents. As reported by OregonLive, on Saturday evening, a 28-year-old man from Nepal, who was said to be an inexperienced swimmer, was swimming with friends in Lake McDonald near Sprague Creek Campground when he began to struggle about 30 yards from shore. He went underwater at approximately 6:25 p.m.
Park spokeswoman Gina Icenoggle explained that the area where the man drowned has a large drop-off near the edge of the lake. The dive team from the Flathead County Sheriff's Office was able to quickly yet tragically recover his body in depths ranging from 35 to 40 feet. In a chilling reminder of the park's hazards, Icenoggle indicated, according to a KOIN interview, that "Drowning is the leading cause of death in Glacier National Park".
The victim, whose name has not been released pending the notification of his family, was a resident of Portland and had been living and working there before his vacation. Park officials are currently in communication with the consulates of Nepal and India to assist in contacting the man's family, as detailed by NBC Montana.
