Two snowmobilers die, one rescued after plunging into Montana lake, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office says it first got a call from one of the party around 6:45 p.m. with reports the party of five sledders had got into trouble while crossing the ice near Seeley Lake Campground.
One man was pulled from the water when his companion was able to crawl across the ice on his stomach, getting his friend to safety. That man was taken to the hospital in Missoula to be treated for hypothermia.
However, no one could locate the remaining two members of the party at water level.
Search and Rescue teams called for help from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, which was able to overfly the lake by helicopter.
Shortly after 10 p.m. MCSO reported the chopper had spotted the pair, allowing rescuers to recover their bodies, confirming they had died after falling through the ice.
Full details of the accident are still being investigated. Names of the victims aren’t being released until next of kin are notified.
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Paige Pavalone said earlier in the evening it wasn’t known exactly what kind of ice conditions existed when the party decided to cross the lake.
Agencies/Canadajournal
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