Joliet, IL – A dramatic early morning rescue unfolded along the Des Plaines River after a man was heard calling for help around 4:25 a.m., prompting a rapid response from Joliet police and fire crews.
An officer in a nearby parking lot first emergency calls for help and quickly located a 25-year-old man in the water near the southern end of the riverwalk in Bicentennial Park. The man was struggling to stay afloat along the west side of the river, holding on as crews rushed to reach him.
According to the Joliet Police Department, officers immediately deployed water rescue equipment and threw ropes to the man, helping keep him above water until additional support arrived. Fire crews entered the river but determined he was too weak to climb a ladder. A rescue boat was then deployed, and the man was safely pulled from the water.
He was transported to Saint Joseph Medical Center for treatment. Officials said the man reported slipping and falling into the river and did not appear to be in crisis. It remains unclear how long he had been in the water before being found.
The incident highlights the coordination between Joliet police and fire personnel, who worked together to stabilize and rescue the man under dangerous conditions in the dark.
Authorities emphasized the importance of quick action and teamwork, noting that the outcome could have been far worse without the immediate response. The man is expected to recover as the investigation into the incident continues.
