Bigfork man dies in Hungry Horse Reservoir; kayakers rescued from Flathead River
TAYLOR INMAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 7 months AGO
A view of Hungry Horse Reservoir from the Canyon Creek boat launch on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. (JP Edge/Hungry Horse News)
REPORTER AND PODCAST HOST Taylor Inman covers Bigfork and the north shore of Flathead Lake for the Bigfork Eagle and the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on local government, community issues and the people who shape life in Northwest Montana. Inman began her journalism career at Murray State University’s public radio newsroom and later reported for WKMS, where her work aired on National Public Radio. In addition to reporting, she hosts and contributes to Daily Inter Lake podcasts including News Now. Her work connects listeners and readers with the stories shaping communities across the Flathead Valley. IMPACT: Taylor’s work expands local journalism through both traditional reporting and digital storytelling. | August 1, 2024 2:00 PM
Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Monday recovered the body of a Bigfork man who drowned in Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Authorities received a call July 28 for a man who had entered the water in the Wounded Buck area of the reservoir, according to a Sheriff’s Office release on Thursday. A boat crew responded to the scene, over 5 miles away, but could not find the victim.
On July 29, boat crews and divers located and retrieved the deceased body of 63-year-old Randel Gilpin of Bigfork. Gilpin was not wearing a life jacket when he entered the water, according to authorities.
Additionally on July 28, Flathead County deputies, Evergreen Fire, Creston Fire and Flathead Search and Rescue responded to a call for a kayak that had flipped with victims trapped on a log on the Flathead River.
Responding crews successfully rescued a 42-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl during the incident. The rescued individuals were not wearing life jackets, according to the release.
Both search and rescue operations happened while authorities continued searching for Emily Rea, a missing paddleboarder last seen near the Riverside Boat Launch in the Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Flathead County Sheriff’s Office officials urged boaters and swimmers to use life jackets for safety.
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