2 Blue Island Men Risk Their Lives to Save Drowning Kids

WILMINGTON, IL — Two Blue Island men risked their lives to try to save a brother and sister, ages 12 and 13, who fell into the Kankakee River near a dam on Memorial Day in Wilmington. One child is dead, the other missing, and one of the would-be rescuers was hospitalized in critical condition.

Abiyail Arroyo, 13, of Joliet, was pronounced dead at 7:14 p.m. Monday at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center. Arroyo was removed from the Kankakee River near the park after she and her brother wandered into the water and were pulled into the roller current of the dam, according to Will County Coroner Patrick K. O’Neil and Wilmington police.

Recovery efforts for the boy resumed Tuesday morning after he was unable to be located Monday evening.

Seeing the children in distress, Alvaro Ibarra, 28, Ramon Ibarra, 25, both of Blue Island, went into the river after the children around 6 p.m. Monday. The undertow currents near the spillway of the dam are very strong. Rescue crews were summoned.

Officers arrived within minutes of the call and immediately deployed water-rescue throw bags. Alvaro Ibarra was able to grab the rope and was pulled from the water and up the wall by Sgt. Don Thomas, Officer Matt Kiebles, Officer Richard Santana and other bystanders who offered assistance, police said.

Although rescuers were able to get a throw rope in front of the girl, she was unresponsive, officers said.

The second would-be rescuer, Ramon Ibarra, 25, of Blue Island, was able to be pulled out of the water at the shore line. He was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox and admitted in critical condition.

— Scott Viau, Patch.com