Teenager dies in boating accident on Flathead Lake
A view of Flathead Lake in Northwest Montana. (Daily Inter Lake FILE)
A Kalispell teenager died over the weekend after he fell off a moving boat on Flathead Lake, authorities said Monday.
The 16-year-old boy's body was recovered from the lake on Sunday morning following an extensive search effort, according to a media release from the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities were dispatched to Flathead Lake near Lakeside on Saturday, Aug. 23 at about 1 p.m. According to the release, the teen fell off the front of the boat while it was moving and he did not resurface.
A searched ensued including the Sheriff’s Office and Flathead County Search and Rescue, as well as the A.L.E.R.T. and Two Bear Air helicopters. Rescue boats, drones and aircraft were deployed but could not find the individual. The Sheriff’s Office dive team also responded and did an initial search of the area from witnesses’ accounts and the 911 ping location.
On Sunday morning, a sonar team and the dive team located and recovered the boy's body.
"Our thoughts and prayers go to the family during this tragedy," Sheriff Brian Heino said in the release.
He also thanked local volunteers and the Idaho-based Ralston underwater search and recovery group for assisting in the effort.