A new, two-week-old Winthrop Harbor Fire Department program proved helpful on Friday when officials were called to rescue a swimmer in distress.
Coda Fernhout, a paramedic firefighter with the Winthrop Harbor Fire Department, said rescue personnel were called to Village Park in the 2500 block of 7th Street in Winthrop Harbor for a swimmer in distress at 8:25 p.m. Friday.
The pond is located in Village Park, but some call it 38 Acres Park, Fernhout said.
Fernhout said the initial call was for an 8-year-old who was 30 feet from shore in the middle of a pond and having trouble swimming.
However, rescuers determined the victim was 18 years old and was clinging to a fountain in the middle of the pond, Fernhout said.
Fernhout, who is categorized as a “Rescue Swimmer” with the Winthrop Harbor Fire Department, jumped into the pond at 8:30 p.m. with a flotation device and swam out to the teen.
He said the victim was pulled to shore within two minutes.
Fernhout said the Rescue Swimmer program was instituted within the last two weeks to assist the fire department with rescuing swimmers in distress.
“A Rescue Swimmer is a new program at the fire district that is similar to a lifeguard but designed specifically for rescue emergencies,” Fernhout said. “Several of us completed the class just two weeks ago. This was the first time we were able to put it into use.”
He said the victim involved in the incident jumped into the pond after an RC Boat he was operating hit the pond fountain and flipped over.
He said the pond is not very big, but the waterway is about 30 feet deep and can become a struggle for those who are not strong swimmers.
He said the victim declined medical treatment at the scene.