Woman Rescued From Chicago River; Fire Chief And Two Firefighters Also Hospitalized
CHICAGO (STMW) -- Three firefighters and a woman they were sent to rescue were taken to a hospital early Saturday.
The Fire Department said a 19-year-old woman jumped into the Chicago River near Cermak Road and Canal Street around 4 a.m. Rescue crews were dispatched to the scene, but a battalion chief who responded to the scene didn't wait for divers, and jumped into the water.
"One of our battalion chiefs stripped down, jumped into the river, swam out there, brought her back to shore," Battalion Chief Tom Arnswald said.
The woman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious condition.
The battalion chief also was taken to a hospital as a precaution; as were two other firefighters who suffered minor injuries from flying debris created by a helicopter that assisted with the rescue operation.