Columbia Falls man dies after pontoon boat flips near Glacier Rim

A Columbia Falls man died late Saturday afternoon after his fishing pontoon boat flipped while floating on the North Fork of the Flathead River near Glacier Rim.

The victim was identified as Ronald Newton, 62, according to a press release from Glacier National Park.

At about 5:42 p.m. Saturday, Glacier Park rangers responded to a report of CPR in progress near Glacier Rim.

North Valley Search and Rescue met rangers at Glacier Rim and provided jet boat transport to Fool Hen Rapids, approximately 2 miles up-river. When rangers arrived, A.L.E.R.T. air ambulance staff was already on-scene with Newton, who had become submerged in the water and became unconscious. He was floating the river with a group.

More than an hour of CPR was performed before efforts were terminated, the press release said. Newton was declared deceased, but cause of death is still unknown.

Witness reports state the group was floating the river Saturday when two pontoon boats tied together became stuck on a rock. Newton attempted to free the boats when his own watercraft flipped, and he became submerged in the water. A friend recovered Newton from the water and several bystanders initiated CPR on a nearby gravel bar.

Reports indicate he was not wearing a personal flotation device or helmet at the time of the incident, the press release said.

Glacier National Park thanked North Valley Search and Rescue, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Blankenship Rural Fire District, and A.L.E.R.T. for their assistance in the rescue effort.