Utah man drowns while surfing North Fork of Flathead River

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Kalispell, Mont. • A 30-year-old Utah man has drowned while trying to "river surf" in northwestern Montana, just west of Glacier National Park.

Flathead County Sheriff's Chuck Curry says the man tied a surfboard to a snag in the North Fork of the Flathead River and was trying to surf Monday evening when he fell into the water and got tangled in the rope.

Patrol Commander Nic Salois said others cut the rope from the snag. The man was pulled from the river about 200 yards downstream. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Salois said the man was from Park City. Officials said he had worked at the Polebridge Mercantile for the past three years. His name was being withheld until family members could be notified.