Man jumps from bridge
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POLSON — A male apparently attempted suicide by jumping off the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge into the icy waters of Flathead Lake at about 5 p.m. on Feb. 3.
Polson Police Chief Doug Chase credited Polson Police Sergeant Wade Nash and Tribal Law Enforcement Officer Orsino Walker with jumping into the water to reach the male, who was face down in the water.
Nash and Walker were in the icy water up to their upper chests and pulled the victim closer to shore until they were relieved by Polson Volunteer firefighters who had arrived on the scene in ice rescue suits.
The firefighters took over towing the victim to shore since Nash and Walker were becoming hypothermic and starting to falter.
Firefighters on shore gathered blankets to wrap up the law enforcement officers while Emergency Medical Technicians provided CPR to the victim according to Polson Fire Department Information Officer Karen Sargeant.
Rescue workers estimated the man was in the water for approximately 10 minutes.
The victim was rushed to St. Joseph’s Medical Center and later transferred to St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula, where he is in intensive care. The name of the victim has not been released.
Another suicide attempt occurred on the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge on Jan. 26. Polson Police Office Chris Wright and Assistant Police Chief John Stevens were able to grab the victim before she jumped.
