26-Year-Old Woman Tumbles To Her Death After Slipping On Rocks, Going Over Waterfalls At National Park

Late Sunday afternoon, a 26-year-old woman tumbled into a creek at a national park in Montana. She drowned after being trapped underwater for several minutes.

The National Park Service said that the woman, Gillian Tones, of North Apollo, Pennsylvania, slipped on slick rocks and went into the Virginia Creek at Glacier National Park.

“Tones was quickly swept up in the cold, fast-moving water and went over a series of smaller waterfalls. She was then pinned underwater by a log for several minutes until heroic efforts by other park visitors led to pulling her from the river,” NPS noted.

Park dispatch had gotten several 911 calls. Park rangers were on the scene at about 5:45 p.m. MT., approximately 25 minutes after the incident was first reported.

An ALERT helicopter arrived to the location at about 6:20 p.m. as resuscitation efforts were being performed. Although medics helped out in the efforts, Tones was declared deceased at 7 p.m.

NPS expressed gratitude to first responders and others for their help. “The park extends their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Tones. We ask that the public respect their privacy.*