Snowmobiler’s Condition Better

A Spokane snowmobiler hospitalized after he fell into a lake was improving Monday, hospital officials said.

The condition of Tim Ewert, 30, was upgraded from critical to serious, according to St. Vincent Hospital in Billings.

Ewert was among a group of snowmobilers riding across Mutt and Jeff lakes about six miles northeast of Cooke City when he fell through ice Sunday afternoon, Park County Sheriff Charley Johnson said.

Ewert was under 18 inches to 2 feet of water - with his snowmobile on top of him - for three to four minutes before fellow riders could free him. He was hypothermic, but the other riders were able to revive him, Johnson said.

Ewert was taken to Cooke City by snowmobile and flown to St. Vincent.