A Rockford man was rescued from the freezing Rock River Tuesday evening after spending nearly 30 minutes in the water, according to Rockford Fire Department.
A witness near the Rockford Public Library spotted a bag by the shore and then heard yelling from 200 feet away. Fire crews responded around 6:50 p.m., finding the man clinging to the ice.
Fire District Chief Slade Berry said rescuers pulled the man from the river within 20 minutes of arriving. He was hypothermic but responsive and taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Berry warned that this should serve as a reminder of the dangers of frozen bodies of water. Ice may look stable, but even a short time in freezing water can be deadly. Stay safe and stay off thin ice!