An incredible rescue unfolded on the Chicago River on Friday after a 65-year-old man fell off a bridge and into the water – and he was brought to safety by an unexpected group: the passengers and crew of a popular tour boat.
The man fell from the Michigan Avenue bridge right into the icy Chicago River below, though it’s unclear what caused him to fall.
Video captured the dramatic moment he was pulled from the water and onto the boat.
It was by chance that the Wendella Linnea and its six crew members were finishing their late-morning architecture tour – when there was a splash upfront.
The man fell as they were about to dock.
“We’re the only one on the river, lucky for him…we’re right in front of Trump Tower just pulling in,” one crew member said.
Boat captain Joe Ratzek, a retired firefighter, sounded the alarm: man overboard.
“I had my training captain get on the wheel, I went out with my binoculars,” he said.
Video taken by Wendella showed the deck hands below, pulling the man from the frigid waters, unresponsive.
“He wasn’t breathing, he was face down,” one crew member said. “We did have a nurse on board.”
One passenger performed CPR while another grabbed a defibrillator.
The man was resuscitated – and a short time later, was awake and talking.
Tour guests clapped as Chicago firefighters took the man off the boat and to the hospital.
The crew credited their training.
“It is very rare to have someone unresponsive, and rare for it to happen this time of year when the water is frigid,” a crew member said.
Wendella also thanked the passengers who planned for a scenic tour – then stepped up to help save a life.
“One passenger helped with CPR, another passenger helped bring the person on the boat,” said Andrew Sargis, a Wendella Boats spokesman. “We had three deck hands going down, grabbing a lifeless body, soaking wet. they really did save his life, it really is amazing.”
As for the captain and crew, this was their first major rescue, and they continued giving tours all day.
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