POLSON — Authorities have released the name of the man who drowned in Flathead Lake on Sunday.
Lake County Sheriff Don Bell says that Michael John Chernikoff 34 of Polson died near Bird Island.
Chernikoff got out of the boat he was riding in and swam to the island, but on the swim back he had problems in the water at around 3:30 p.m.
Sheriff Bell notes that passersby’s in a boat stopped to help, pulled Chernikoff aboard and found he was not breathing and had no heart beat.
Lake County Search and Rescue and Lake County deputies responded with medical staff on board.
Chernikoff's body was sent to the Montana Crime Lab so that an autopsy can be performed.
