Climbing wall falls, 8 kids injured

Eight middle school students were taken to local hospitals for treatment after a climbing wall collapsed at a Lakeside-area church camp Saturday morning.

Glacier Camp and Conference Center Interim Director Steve Edwards said the collapse occurred at about 10 a.m. None of the injuries appear to be life threatening, he said.

Three boys, ages 11, 13 and 14 were taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Polson along with a 13-year-old girl. Four other youths were taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Injuries ranged from apparent broken bones to heavy bruising, Edwards said.

“It just started collapsing in slow motion,” Edwards said, recalling what one eyewitness told him. 

He said the wall, which he estimated is about eight feet tall, is used for bouldering and practicing rock climbing. It’s one of several recreational activities offered by the camp, which functions as a ministry for the Glacier Presbytery within the Presbyterian Church.

“We use it all the time,” Edwards said. “During summer camp kids scramble all over it and didn’t ever have a problem.”

Edwards said two of his grandsons — one 13 and the other 11 — were

injured when the wall fell and were among those taken to the Kalispell hospital.

He said adults had to lift the wall off of two of the children after it fell. Paramedics arrived shortly after the wall fell.

“I guess right now we’re just hoping for the best,” Edwards said Saturday afternoon.

The camp, which has operates along the shore of Flathead Lake about six miles south of Lakeside, was open for a middle school fall retreat. He said the children are all from Western Montana.