Swimmer chases raft into Yellowstone River and vanishes, Montana officials say

UPDATE: Search and rescue officials found and recovered the body of Randall Crawford of Park City, Montana, on Friday after he disappeared in the Yellowstone River.

A gust of wind blew a swimmer’s raft into the Yellowstone River. When he chased after it, he vanished, Montana officials said.

The man, who is in his early 60s, has been missing since Sunday afternoon, the Sweet Grass County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. He was last seen attempting to retrieve his raft in the Yellowstone River.

“A wind gust reportedly blew the raft into the water,” the sheriff’s office said on Facebook. “The victim attempted to swim after the raft based on initial reports.”

He was not wearing a life jacket or other personal flotation device, officials said.

The man was part of a group of people who were floating the river. Other members of the party reported him missing when he did not resurface, the sheriff’s office said.

Several Sweet Grass County agencies have helped search for the man, but weather conditions prevented officials from finding him.

“Searchers have been hampered by windy conditions and muddy water,” the sheriff’s office said. “Search efforts are continuing.”

The Yellowstone River is the only free-flowing river in the continental U.S., according to the Montana Office of Tourism. It’s 670 miles long, stretching from Lake Yellowstone to the Missouri River in North Dakota.

Floating is one of the most popular activities on the river, according to Big Sky Fishing, but it is not allowed in Yellowstone National Park.

This story was originally published August 11, 2021 at 9:59 AM with the headline "Swimmer chases raft into Yellowstone River and vanishes, Montana officials say."