Follow-up on Injured Hiker Rescued from Atsina Lake

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News Release Date: August 2, 2006
Contact: Matt Graves, 406-888-7942

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Officials at Glacier National Park report that the visitor injured yesterday in a fall in the Atsina Lake area in the Belly River drainage was an 18 year-old from Brookston, Indiana. The victim, who was hiking with a group of Boy Scouts, sustained extensive injuries to his extremities from the fall. His name is currently being withheld so that his family can be notified.

It appears that he was down-climbing through cliffs southeast of Stony Indian Pass when he slipped at about 12:30 p.m. He fell approximately 90 vertical feet to a 30 degree talus and scree slope, and then tumbled further downslope.

A Glacier Wilderness Guides group leader came upon the scene at approximately 1:15 p.m. and reported the incident using a satellite phone. A helicopter assigned to the Red Eagle Fire transported park personnel to the accident area. The ALERT helicopter also flew to the scene with a flight nurse and flight paramedic.

Given that the victim was only 175 yards from the trailhead and suitable landing spots were in the immediate area, rescue personal arrived on the scene quickly. The victim was transported to the ALERT helicopter on a litter by park staff with assistance from Glacier Wilderness Guides and the Boy Scouts.

The victim was transported by the ALERT helicopter to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, leaving the park at about 4:00 p.m. He was transferred late yesterday to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he is listed in critical condition.

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