A driver of a boat was ejected into the water and hospitalized in the ICU during a drag boat race event on Grass Lake at Blarney Island near Antioch Thursday evening.
The Antioch Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit responded around 7:35 p.m. Thursday to Grass Lake near Fort Apache, 27134 Fairview Avenue in unincorporated Antioch, for a traumatic injury call.
Antioch Fire Department Lt. Francisco Contreras-Gomez said paramedics were met at the shoreline by the Blarney Island rescue boat, which was staffed by a dedicated team of rescue divers and paramedics.
The Blarney Island team had successfully rescued the victim from the water and transported them to shore, Contreras-Gomez said.
Care was transferred to an Antioch Fire Department ambulance crew, who initiated advanced life support.
The victim was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where his condition was stable.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said the victim was operating a boat during a boat race event.
He was ejected from the boat and rescued. He was conscious and breathing at the time.
Covelli said the driver gave his boat a shot of nitro, which caused the engine to explode and eject him.
“His safety equipment worked,” Covelli said, adding that the injuries appeared to be non-life-threatening.
The son of the victim said his father is currently in the intensive care unit. There is not believed to be any internal bleeding but he did suffer a broken ligament in his upper spine.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, which was caught on video by a bystander.
The bystander shared the video with Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
It showed two boats racing at a high speed when the driver was suddenly ejected into the water before being quickly rescued.
It is the 36th season that Blarney Island is hosting drag boat racing, which occurs every Thursday evening throughout the summer. The event is organized by the Northern Illinois Drag Boat Association.