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KALISPELL- An Alberta man died Tuesday after drowning on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in the Great Bear Wilderness.

James Wilson, 50, of Lethbridge, Alberta had been floating with a group of kayakers from Granite Creek to Bear Creek when he got hung up on the Spruce Park rapids.

Wilson's boat capsized, and he was held under water by the force of the river, where he drowned.

His companions were eventually able to free him and attempted CPR for about a half hour, but were unsuccessful. They then hiked out to a spot where they could get cell phone service and reported the incident.

Wilson was wearing a life vest on the river and the Flathead County Sheriff's Department tells us it is unlikely alcohol was involved, with Sheriff Chuck Curry saying the drowning was a very unfortunate accident.

"Any outdoor recreation here in Northwest Montana poses some degree of risk, and it's impossible to eliminate all of that risk. We want to encourage people to just be as safe as they possibly can," Curry advised.

The body was recovered Tuesday evening with the assistance of Red Eagle Helicopters.