Teen girl submerged for nearly 10 minutes in rafting accident near Glacier

A 17-year-old girl from Ohio is in an induced coma and on a ventilator in a hospital in Kalispell after a serious accident during a commercial rafting trip in late May.

A friend of the family of Evie Scoville has started a GoFundMe account for the girl and they describe the accident on that website.

"On Thursday, May 28th, 17-year-old Evie was involved in a drowning incident while whitewater rafting in Montana," the GoFundMe states. "After her boat was overturned, Evie was tragically submerged for approximately 10 minutes until she was heroically rescued by her boyfriend and his family, despite raging waters and risk to themselves. She then received 45 minutes of lifesaving CPR from his family and nearby EMTs before being airlifted to Kalispell, Montana, for emergency medical treatment."

The news of the accident was first reported by the Hungry Horse News in Columbia Falls. That outlet reported that Scoville was on a guided trip by one of the commercial raft companies that operates on the Middle Fork Flathead River.

The GoFundMe said that Scoville was immediately admitted to the ICU, where she was placed in an induced coma and therapeutically cooled to give her body the best shot at recovery after this traumatic incident.

"Initial neurologic evaluations after the accident were bleak," the post says. "However, with amazing care from incredible doctors and nurses in the ICU and lots of love from all those who love and support her, she has made slow but steady progress despite being only 48 hours removed from the event."

The Hungry Horse News reported that the accident happened at Bonecrusher rapid.

"Doctors and family remain hopeful and encouraged by Evie's extraordinary and courageous efforts thus far, and she is working tirelessly to show her loved ones she is the fighter they know her to be," the GoFundMe concludes. "Evie's recovery is expected to be long and expensive, including medical transport, ongoing ICU care for an indeterminate but prolonged amount of time, therapy, and other related expenses. In addition to receiving updates here, please consider donating to help offset the expected financial burden and afford Evie every opportunity to make a full recovery."

Last week, Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino issued a special press release warning people of the danger of the high water in local waterways, saying they had responded to multiple incidents.