Three people survive fall into Glacier National Park's Avalanche Gorge

Three people fell into Glacier National Park’s Avalanche Gorge Sunday night about 7 p.m. and survived the ordeal.

A group of four visitors from Florida were gathering for a photo on the rocks above Avalanche Gorge, when one individual slipped and fell into the water, a second and third person trying to help also fell in. Two of the individuals were swept through the gorge while one, a boy, was able to grab ahold of tree branches in the gorge, waiting for help, the park said in a release.

Rangers responded to find both individuals responsive, as bystanders performing CPR were successful in resuscitating the two individuals that had been swept through the gorge. 

The first ranger on scene was informed of a boy that was trapped in the gorge. The ranger was able to rappel to the individual and secure them while the technical rescue team was assembled and retrieved both the individual and the ranger.

Eyewitnesses said on a social media that the people were family members. Video on Facebook showed a boy clinging to a branch above the whitewater rushing through the gorge, as he shook from the cold after going into the frigid water.

All patients were transported to Logan Health in Kalispell. One patient was transported by ALERT, the second patient by Three Rivers Ambulance, and the third patient by Whitefish Ambulance.  

All members involved are in stable condition, the Park Service said.

Their names were not released.

Avalanche Gorge is one of the most popular sites in Glacier and sees thousands of visitors a day. 

But its slippery rocks can also be an appealing, but dangerous attraction as the water is extremely cold and the gorge is rife with logs and undercuts. People have drowned in the gorge on several occasions in the past. The last drowning in the gorge was in July, 2024.

“The whole incident is really a great example of how fast the emergency response system can be taxed in the valley,” said Sal Baccaro, a firefighter and paramedic with Whitefish Fire Department.

Baccaro and his partner, Annie Nixon, responded to the July 6 call for mutual assistance from the National Park Service. Rescuers were helping one of the patients walk to the trailhead when the pair arrived. Baccaro and Nixon helped stabilize that patient while rescuers returned to Avalanche Creek to retrieve the boy, who was still in the gorge. 

“It’s a pretty unique situation that so many agencies were involved in this incident,” said Baccaro. “When we arrived, we were kind of running all over.” 

This story has been updated from its original version. Hailey Smalley contributed to this report.