Two suburban men involved in horrific river accident Saturday | 103.9 WLPO

Two suburban men experienced a frightening incident near the South Shore Boat Club on Saturday afternoon. According to Conservation Police Sergeant Phil Wire, a personal watercraft and another boat that was not quite seaworthy were involved. One of the men, a 34-year-old, apparently drove a new personal watercraft into the middle of the Illinois River. The craft stopped and began to drift down the river as a barge approached.

The rescue man jumped into the river and began swimming to shore. His buddy, a 22-year-old who was still on shore, jumped into another boat and headed out to rescue him and salvage the broken-down watercraft. The rescued man noticed the boat he was in was taking on water. He jumped back into the Illinois and swam to shore. We’re told he drowned twice but made it to shore. He was treated at OSF St. Elizabeth’s in Peru. Nothing is known about the other man.