Emergency crews respond to the Island Chain of Lakes near the 38500 block of North Lakeside Place in unincorporated Antioch for a water rescue incident that left one person critically injured Friday. | Photo: Joe Shuman/J. Shuman Photography (2022)

Authorities say a 73-year-old man is in critical condition after he fell into the water while fishing with a friend and had to be rescued Friday afternoon near Antioch.

The Antioch Fire Protection District and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 1:35 p.m. Friday to the 38500 block of North Lakeside Place in unincorporated Antioch.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that dispatchers received a call of a person in the water in a channel just off the Fox Lake.

Emergency crews respond to the Island Chain of Lakes near the 38500 block of North Lakeside Place in unincorporated Antioch for a water rescue incident that left one person critically injured Friday. | Photo: Joe Shuman/J. Shuman Photography (2022)

A 73-year-old Antioch man was fishing with a friend, a 74-year-old Winthrop Harbor man, on a small watercraft.

The Antioch man’s fishing line got tangled in some weeds and he was attempting to retrieve it, Covelli said.

While attempting to retrieve the line, the victim fell into the cold water from the boat.

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Covelli said the victim immediately went underwater and was underneath for approximately one or two minutes.

Emergency crews respond to the Island Chain of Lakes near the 38500 block of North Lakeside Place in unincorporated Antioch for a water rescue incident that left one person critically injured Friday. | Photo: Joe Shuman/J. Shuman Photography (2022)

His friend jumped into the water and attempted to keep him afloat by holding his head above the water, Covelli said.

A 48-year-old Villa Park man, acting as a Good Samaritan, jumped into the water to assist after hearing the Winthrop Harbor man yelling for help.

Fire department personnel arrived and rescued the two from the water.

Covelli said that the Antioch man was transported to Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital in critical condition.

Foul play is not suspected at this time and the investigation remains ongoing.