Ice rescue at Foster Beach captured on police body cameras

Screenshot of police bodycam footage. | CPD

Chicago police tonight released bodyworn camera footage of officers rescuing a 33-year-old man and his dog from the frigid waters of Lake Michigan near Foster Beach on Sunday afternoon.  The man and his pet have both recovered.

Video not loading? Click HERE.
Police and fire units were called to the beach around 1 p.m. when the man had trouble getting out of the water after jumping in to save an American Eskimo mix puppy that jumped into the lake on his first visit to the beach.

Chicago Police Commander Sean Loughran speaks with to the media with officers who were involved in the rescue. | Chicago Police Department

Arriving officers linked themselves together to rescue the man, police said.

The lake’s water temperature is 34 degrees today at the Chicago shoreline, according to the National Weather Service. Without specially-designed gear, a person in the water will lose consciousness within 15 minutes, a member of CPD’s marine unit said.

Police said the man was treated and released from Weiss Memorial Hospital.

He released a statement today in which he praised the officers and other personnel who came to his aid. “I have no doubt that I would have died without help, I am forever grateful to them…My core body temperature had dropped to 93 degrees. Pika and I are both fully recovered and in debt to our gracious and heroic first responders.”
—————-
Support CWB’s original reporting to receive members-only analysis and services year-round. Subscriptions start at $49 a year or $5 a month. You can also one-time donate an amount of your choosing. Click here — and THANK YOU!

———-
Email      Facebook       Twitter       YouTube
About CWBChicago 4358 Articles
CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets.