Paddleboarder Rescued In Elmhurst

ELMHURST, IL – Two paddleboarders planned to go on Salt Creek from Addison to Brookfield Zoo over the weekend, but one of them needed to be rescued, authorities said.

Early Saturday afternoon, the duo entered the creek in Addison, but they encountered swift water and debris near Elmhurst's water treatment plant, according to a city news release. They were both thrown into the creek.

One person was able to reach the shoreline, while the other remained stranded in fast-moving water, holding onto a tree mound, the city said.

Firefighters from Elmhurst and nearby towns responded.

As downstream teams set up safety measures, an Elmhurst rescue swimmer reached the stranded person with a life vest and tag line, according to the news release. The swimmer and paddleboarder were brought ashore.

Both paddleboarders suffered minor injuries, but neither needed to go to the hospital, the city said.

"This incident could have ended very differently," Elmhurst Fire Chief Dick Dufort said in the release. "We urge anyone considering waterway activities, especially on Salt Creek, to use extreme caution. Following a week of significant rainfall, the water was moving far too fast for safe recreational use."