A man was found dead after a jet ski crash on the Fox River near McHenry that prompted a major fire department rescue response Sunday afternoon.
The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District responded around 1:54 p.m. Sunday to the area of Kief’s Reef, 3505 South Wright Road in unincorporated McHenry.
Nunda Rural Fire Protection District Communication Specialist Alex Vucha said crews received a report of a water rescue on the Fox River near Burton’s Bridge on Route 176.
A man was reported missing and an overturned jet ski was seen in the middle of the Fox River, Vucha said.
The man was believed to have crashed into something, which caused him to be thrown into the water.
A second jet skier was traveling in tandem with the man on a separate watercraft at the time of the incident.
He drove his jet ski to the shore and declined medical treatment.
The Cary, McHenry and Wauconda fire districts were requested to the scene to assist with the search effort.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was soon activated to the box alarm level for additional resources, including divers, boats and sonar equipment.
Fire crews staged near the marina at 3600 Riverside Drive, just south of Route 176.
Vucha said rescuers thoroughly searched the river and located the missing man dead just after 3 p.m. in the water in close proximity to his jet ski.
After the discovery, operations were scaled back and crews began picking up and demobilizing.
“The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District extends our appreciation and gratitude to the surrounding agencies who assisted at the scene and covered our District during the incident,” Vucha said.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation due to the incident occurring on the Fox River.