EBS STAFF
A 26-year-old woman drowned Sunday after falling over St. Mary Falls on the east side of Glacier National Park. She was identified Tuesday as Gillian Tones from North Apollo, Pennsylvania.
Witnesses told officials that Tones washed over the falls and became trapped under the water for several minutes. A June 25 press release from the National Park Service clarified initial reports about how Tones ended up in the falls.
“Witnesses later clarified that she slipped on wet, slick rocks and fell into Virginia Creek between St. Mary and Virginia Falls, about 200 yards above the trail bridge. 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,” the release stated.
The bystanders performed CPR until emergency responders arrived, and park rangers and ambulance personnel took over CPR. Roughly 100 minutes after the initial incident, medical personnel terminated resuscitation efforts.
“Park staff would like to thank Glacier County, ALERT, Babb Ambulance and US Border Patrol for their support, along with numerous bystanders for their immediate assistance,” the release stated, adding that the incident remains under investigation. “The park extends their deepest condolences to family and friends of Tones and asks that the public respect their privacy.”
