Kayaker dies in Flathead River accident

Hungry Horse News

A Kalispell man died Sunday afternoon after he fell out of the kayak he was paddling on the Flathead River.

James Curtis, 39, was kayaking with his wife when he fell into the water in the Spruce Park area near Evergreen, according to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino.

Bystanders heard the man and helped pull him to shore. After receiving CPR, the man was taken by Evergreen Fire Rescue to Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, where he died.

Heino said the man was not wearing a personal flotation device. An investigation into his death was ongoing. The sheriff’s office and ALERT emergency responders assisted at the scene.

Note: This story has been corrected to reflect the accident occurred on the mainstem Flathead River.