Authorities say a teenager nearly drowned but was saved by a 13-year-old who rescued the older teen from the water at a beach in Lincolnshire Wednesday evening.
The Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District and Lincolnshire Police Department responded around 5:49 p.m. Wednesday to Spring Lake Park, 49 Oxford Drive in Lincolnshire, for a medical emergency.
Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Tyler Reynolds said firefighters and paramedics arrived to find a person who had been removed from the water by a bystander.
The victim was transported to a local hospital in unknown condition for further treatment, Reynolds said.
Lincolnshire Deputy Police Chief Kimberly Covelli said officers arrived and found a 19-year-old Lincolnshire man, who was lying on a grassy area near the beach area of the park.
The man reported that he was swimming in the lake when he experienced a severe leg cramp.
The man experienced difficulty staying afloat and began yelling for help.
He was periodically submerging into the water as he tried to stay afloat, Covelli said.
A 13-year-old boy happened to be walking by the area with his friends when he heard the cries for help and quickly acted.
Covelli said the 13-year-old jumped into the water and successfully rescued the 19-year-old man by bringing him to shore.
The 19-year-old was transported by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
The police department lauded the younger child and said they are extremely grateful for his heroic actions.