Child, 3, Falls Into Des Plaines River, Stranger Makes Rescue

JOLIET — On Monday night, a 3-year-old child nearly drowned in the Des Plaines River, but fortunately a stranger was nearby and jumped into the water to save the child, according to Joliet Fire Chief Jeff Carey. The child's mother also jumped into the water, and also had to be rescued by crews from the Joliet Fire Department, according to Carey.

The child and the mother were rushed by ambulance to St. Joe's hospital, and they were considered in good condition, according to the chief.

At 7:07 p.m. Monday, Joliet Fire Stations 1, 4 and 5 dive teams were sent to Bicentennial Park for a 3-year-old child who fell into the water. The mother then jumped into the canal herself in hopes of saving her child, but she struggled to stay above the deep waters.

But before the Joliet Fire Department even arrived on the scene, a bystander in the area of Bicentennial Park jumped into the canal and rescued the child, Carey said.

However, the mother remained in the water as the firefighters arrived. Crews managed to throw the woman an inflatable ring as divers jumped into the water to make the rescue.

Carey told Joliet Patch that the firefighters managed to obtain the bystander's information and even though he did not want any recognition, the Joliet Fire Department hopes to honor him at a future City Council meeting, perhaps giving him a life-saving award.

Carey said he learned from his battalion chiefs that there was a group of several people standing nearby when the child fell into the water, and none of them tried to do anything to save the child except for him. "He was the only that did," Carey said.

"If he had not jumped in, the child probably would have went under."