Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino confirmed with MTN News that an out-of-state male drowned in the Middle Fork of the Flathead River near Essex on Sunday night.
According to Heino, three individuals were attempting to move camping equipment using ropes and a raft across the Middle Fork River around 10 p.m. on Sunday.
While they were trying to maneuver across, Heino explained that a male slipped and went downstream.
Law enforcement as well as ALERT, Two Bear Air and Search and Rescue were dispatched to locate the male around 3:50 a.m. The male was then discovered deceased by law enforcement.
The identification of the male is being withheld while law enforcement notifies family.
