Missing boater’s body found
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POLSON — Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies recovered missing boater Nathan Bird’s body from Flathead Lake at about 12:45 p.m. on Aug. 29, according to Karen Sargeant, LCSO Public Information Officer.
Bird, 36, from Huson, Mont., had been missing since Sunday, Aug. 25 when he launched his 21-foot fiberglass boat at Paradise Cove, a recreational vehicle resort with cabins.
Bird left about 10:30 a.m. to go fishing, according to Bird’s wife Chris, and took the couple’s two dogs with him.
Lake County 9-1-1 dispatch received a call after boaters saw a boat in the narrows without a driver but with a dog on board. LCSO deputies immediately responded and rescued the dog. They also found another dog on a nearby island, shivering.
After running the hull numbers on the boat, LCSO deputies contacted Chris Bird. They also called out Lake County Search and Rescue and the Polson Fire Department with their boats.
The groups began scouring nearby islands for Bird at once and continued daily; visiting nearby islands to check for signs Bird may have climbed out of the lake.
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office sent their boat and personnel who helped with the search.
Using side scan sonar equipment and cadaver dogs, Bird’s body was found and recovered.
His body was sent to the Montana State Crime Laboratory for investigation into cause of death.
The LCSO thanked all the personnel who participated in the search and said they are especially grateful for the assistance of equipment and personnel provided by the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.
