Two men rescued after boat capsizes

Two men were plucked from Smith Lake west of Kalispell on Tuesday evening after spending more than an hour in the frigid water when their boat capsized, according to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Chuck Curry said the men had taken to the water in a small aluminum boat after they attempted to seal a leak in the vessel.

Smith Valley Fire Department personnel were the first responders to arrive but were unable to get to the men, who were in a deep portion of the lake.

Curry said one of the men — ages 48 and 24 — couldn’t swim and there was only one life jacket. They chose to stay near the boat until help arrived, Curry said.

“That was certainly the smart thing to do,” he said.

Sheriff’s officials aboard a search-and-rescue boat pulled the men out of the water at about 7:30 p.m.

They both were suffering from hypothermia and were transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center for treatment, Curry said.

Neither sustained serious injuries.