Bigfork man dies in Hungry Horse Reservoir; kayakers rescued from Flathead River
A view of Hungry Horse Reservoir from the Canyon Creek boat launch on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. (JP Edge/Hungry Horse News)
Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Monday recovered the body of a Bigfork man who drowned in Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Authorities received a call July 28 for a man who had entered the water in the Wounded Buck area of the reservoir, according to a Sheriff’s Office release on Thursday. A boat crew responded to the scene, over 5 miles away, but could not find the victim.
On July 29, boat crews and divers located and retrieved the deceased body of 63-year-old Randel Gilpin of Bigfork. Gilpin was not wearing a life jacket when he entered the water, according to authorities.
Additionally on July 28, Flathead County deputies, Evergreen Fire, Creston Fire and Flathead Search and Rescue responded to a call for a kayak that had flipped with victims trapped on a log on the Flathead River.
Responding crews successfully rescued a 42-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl during the incident. The rescued individuals were not wearing life jackets, according to the release.
Both search and rescue operations happened while authorities continued searching for Emily Rea, a missing paddleboarder last seen near the Riverside Boat Launch in the Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Flathead County Sheriff’s Office officials urged boaters and swimmers to use life jackets for safety.