'Unlikely accident' claims kayaker's life
<p>Brian Heino, left, search and rescue coordinator for the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, and Glacier National Park Ranger Scott Emmerich work at the scene of a drowning on the North Fork Flathead River south of Polebridge on Wednesday.</p><p></p>
The woman who drowned on the North Fork Flathead River on Wednesday afternoon has been identified as Shawna Thomas, 51, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Thomas and her husband were in a rigid-framed collapsible kayak when they came around a corner on the North Fork four miles south of Polebridge, encountering tree root balls as obstacles on both sides of the river channel.
“The back end of the kayak had been caught and the force of the water twisted the front end of the kayak around one of the root balls,” according to a press release Thursday from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.
“This caused the kayak to roll over and also bend. The female occupant was caught in the partially collapsed vessel while her husband was washed out. He was not injured and attempted repeatedly to free the kayak.”
Unsuccessful in his attempts, he went to the nearby North Fork Road to flag down a vehicle for help.
Personnel from the Sheriff’s Office (including the Dive Rescue Team), Glacier National Park, North Valley Search and Rescue and Blankenship Fire Department responded.
A helicopter from Red Eagle Aviation transported Thomas and the kayak from the scene.
“Thomas and her husband had extensive kayaking experience and were properly equipped and trained for the river and conditions,” the press release states. “The hazard was difficult to see until they had come around the corner at which time there was little time to react. This was an unlikely accident that would have been difficult to anticipate or avoid.”