Kalispell man dies in tree well accident

A man died Friday after falling into a tree well while skiing outside the boundary of Whitefish Mountain Resort, officials confirmed.

According to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino, the victim is from Kalispell.

According to information from the resort, ski patrol members were alerted to the incident at 12:05 p.m. Ski patrol skied the last known area where the individual was said to have been seen and found the person in a tree well around 1:35 p.m.

CPR was performed on scene and the patient was transported to North Valley Hospital's Base Lodge Clinic.

Two Bear Air and ALERT helicopters were dispatched, but it was determined that ground transportation via toboggan was the most efficient mode of transport. After the patient arrived at the clinic, Big Mountain ambulance transported the patient to the hospital.

Whitefish Mountain Resort reminds people to ski with a buddy and with a whistle. For more information on tree well safety can be found here.