Kayakers rescued from turbulent Flathead Lake

Two kayakers suffering from hypothermia were rescued Thursday, July 25 from rough water on Flathead Lake.

Lake County dispatchers received a call at about 5 p.m. from the two people requesting assistance, according to a press release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

One of the two had gone in the water prior to the 911 call. By the time a search and rescue team reached the pair, they were both in the water. It was approximately 40 minutes before the kayakers could be taken out of the water, and by then they were suffering effects of hypothermia, the release stated. Both people were wearing a personal flotation device.

The Sheriff’s Office cautions boaters to wear PFDs and to be aware that conditions on Flathead Lake can change rapidly, "turning a pleasurable day into a sudden nightmare."

On June 27, a Missoula man became separated from his boat and drowned in the lake.

"It takes time to muster a response to these emergencies, and time to travel across this huge body of water to reach those in need of help," Sheriff Don Bell said. "This is one of many calls our search and rescue have been busy with this summer, many of which resulted in successful rescue efforts, and sadly, one drowning. The Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank our search and rescue units for their great work and volunteerism for our community."