Cops Rescue Man in Chicago River
- The man poking his head out of the water had one hand on the dock, but he was losing his grip after several minutes in the Chicago River this morning, large ice chunks floating feet away.
Kneeling above him was Officer Wayne Kramer, who had sprinted down a flight of stairs after hearing the man's screams from his squad car on the lower level of Lake Shore Drive.
A former lifeguard, Kramer had one arm around the man as he called to his partner, Officer Fred Estrada, who was parking the squad car and calling for an ambulance.
“I said, Fred, I can’t get this guy up by myself,” said Kramer, 47.
Estrada and a bystander stooped next to Kramer on the four-foot-wide dock, trying to wrestle the man out of the water without getting pulled in.
“By the time we dragged him out of the water, we couldn’t even get him to use his legs or his hands,” Kramer said.
The man remains in critical condition. Very well done Officers.
Labels: good news
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
24 Comments:
Heroes all (civilian included). Trib will find a way to fault the LEOs.
Good job Wayne!
Every single second counted to keep that young man alive...this gripping story is nearly unbelievable. With the sounds of the city, noisy vehicles, the whirl of the water with its echos...how in the world could anyone hear his pitiful cries for help....between the Good Samaritan sticking with it and calling 911 and the heroic bravery of Officer Wayne Kramer...a life may be saved...the guy is critical but alive. Bravo Officer Kramer, to You especially, and to Officer Estrada and the 2 Good Sams...thank God there are compassionate and spirited folks in this world.
Chilling work, not easily done.
Yup... "Chicago's Finest !"
Great job, men.
Great job officers Kramer and Estrada, and to the unnamed citizen(s) who assisted. Especially under those conditions and that location.
----- an aside OT: It wasn't that many years ago that anyone who went into the Chicago River, by accident or choice, would have to get about 20 shots of every antibiotic under the sun due to the pollution (toxic waste). But the *real* Mayor Daley had a goal, to clean it up and said that one day folks would be fishing in it during lunch time, and he was right!
Also and most important, THAT was a mayor who loved and stood by his Police Dept. Aug 26, 1968 (the Hippie Riot) & his 'infamous' Shoot To Kill Order during the MLK riots made many a Chicagoan proud -- the law abiding that is -- when made it loud and clear: Don't fuck with me & this city, Law & Order will prevail.) -----
Great work guys. If no one puts you in for a lifesaving award, post it here. I will get the paperwork and do it myself.
Great Job!!!!!
Bravo, CPD! This is what you're all about, heroes every single day!
I like the part where his partner was parking the car. What happened to this Department? Have the civilians from parking enforcement gotten that bad?
Way to go Officers. Nice Job!!!
How amazing is it that the first officer on the scene had lifeguard training. Thank you for all that you do, in every situation every day to keep us safe. From the daughter of a retired CPD sarge who thought about the consequences every day when he went to work.
great work guys you make us proud
Outstanding....you guys are hero's!
What a Christmas that victims family will have all because of YOU!
Sometimes, when someone is that determined to see the other side, it would behoove you to allow them to do just that. What if one of those officers fell in during the rescue attempt? Then what?
I am sure Kanye West would have jumped in and saved them too:
http://www.mercurynews.com/celebrities/ci_24695269/kanye-west-compares-himself-police
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/12/09/Im-Putting-My-Life-At-Risk-Literally-Kanye-West-Compares-Dancing-on-Stage-To-Being-Cop-or-Soldier
Great job, Officers & civilians!
A wonderful Christmas gift!
Anonymous Anonymous said...
How amazing is it that the first officer on the scene had lifeguard training. Thank you for all that you do, in every situation every day to keep us safe. From the daughter of a retired CPD sarge who thought about the consequences every day when he went to work.
12/14/2013 10:38:00 AM
Yeah, kinda like the other night when the Arlington Heights guy was shot and the neighbor happened to be a paramedic/fire boss.
The universe brings our miracles in quiet ways.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Sometimes, when someone is that determined to see the other side, it would behoove you to allow them to do just that. What if one of those officers fell in during the rescue attempt? Then what?
12/14/2013 07:46:00 PM
It's what we DO.
It's who we ARE.
We're the people who DON'T stand in the crowd and worry about 'what if'.
Good job Officers.
Years ago my partner (RIP) and I had a similar rescue on a frigid night. We got the Life Saving Award and a letter of thanks from the family.
Years later I found out the victim we saved had pulled a car into a garage and closed the door with the motor running and died. I never told my partner that part of the story.
One thing to keep in mind, if any of you are involved in something like that with a partner or partners, don't tell the story as "I did this.", it should be, "We did this."
06-12-B baby!
good stuff.
Didn't Fred's brother Erik used to work in the motorcycle unit over with the California Highway Patrol?
good stuff.
Didn't Fred's brother Erik used to work in the motorcycle unit over with the California Highway Patrol?
12/14/2013 11:43:00 PM
I see what you did there!
12/14/2013 07:46:00 PM
It's what we DO.
It's who we ARE.
We're the people who DON'T stand in the crowd and worry about 'what if'.
12/14/2013 09:03:00 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Good job Officers.
Years ago my partner (RIP) and I had a similar rescue on a frigid night. We got the Life Saving Award and a letter of thanks from the family.
Years later I found out the victim we saved had pulled a car into a garage and closed the door with the motor running and died. I never told my partner that part of the story.
One thing to keep in mind, if any of you are involved in something like that with a partner or partners, don't tell the story as "I did this.", it should be, "We did this."
Great post Officers and great work. A job well done and thank God you are all safe.
However WE ALL need to stick together and NEVER give the liberal media types ANY STORY or COMITT after doing POLICE Work for their reports. They have NEVER been NOR will EVER be your friend.
Case in point YOUR PENSIONS! HUNG every PO out to dry!
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