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Officials identify teen who died in a diving accident in Glacier National Park

Posted at 8:52 AM, Nov 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-05 11:36:14-05

GREAT FALLS — Glacier National Park officials have identified Linnea Rose Mills of Missoula as the person who died in a scuba-diving accident in Lake McDonald.

Mills,18 years old, was part of a scuba-diving group that started their dive near the dock of Lake McDonald Lodge on Sunday, November 1, at around 4:00 pm.

At about 5:50 p.m., a park ranger received a report of a scuba-diving accident at the lake.

Bystanders drove to Apgar Village for cell signal to call 911. An A.L.E.R.T. helicopter was first to arrive at the scene, about thirty minutes after the initial 911 call.

Mills was declared dead after resuscitation efforts by members of the diving group and first responders were unsuccessful.

A second diver, a 22-year-old man, complained of shortness of breath and was taken by Three Rivers Ambulance to Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He was later flown to a medical facility in Seattle, Washington for hyperbaric treatment.

The incident is still being investigated, and no other details have been released.

Glacier National Park staff said in a news release that they extend their deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends.

Park officials thank the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Dive Team, Three Rivers Ambulance, and A.L.E.R.T. for their assistance in this rescue effort.