A man was located safely after fire officials say a medical alarm activated and pinged to the Fox River near Algonquin, prompting a major fire department rescue response Wednesday afternoon.
The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded around 2:55 p.m. Wednesday to the 9700 block of Arthur Road in unincorporated Algonquin for a report of a medical alarm activation.
Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District Fire Chief John Knebl said the department received a report of a missing 89-year-old man.
The man’s medical pendant had been activated and pinged to a location in the Fox River behind homes along Arthur Road.
Knebl said that fire personnel, police, dive teams and drone operators were immediately deployed.
A coordinated and extensive search effort began and focused on the river and the surrounding areas.
Knebl said emergency personnel were not able to make contact with the individual or his family. They also went to his home and could not find him.
A family member contacted 911 dispatch around an hour later to report that the man was safe and in the care of his family at another location not near the river.
The family said they had been boating earlier in the day when the man’s medical pendant likely fell out of his pocket and into the Fox River, inadvertently triggering the emergency response, Knebl said.
“We are grateful for the positive outcome in this situation,” Knebl said.
“We treat every call of this nature with the utmost seriousness, and we appreciate the swift coordination between agencies and the family’s quick follow-up that ensured the man’s safety,” the fire chief added.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level and then to the second alarm level.
Lake and McHenry County divers and sonar technicians were called to the scene, including the Huntley, Crystal Lake, Barrington, Fox River Grove, McHenry, Newport, Fox Lake, Buffalo Grove, Libertyville, Wauconda, Antioch, Woodstock, Round Lake, Grayslake, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Long Grove, Mundelein, Hebron, Lake Bluff, Cary and Carpentersville fire departments.
The Algonquin Police Department and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit also assisted.
The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District said they thank all personnel involved for their rapid response and remind the public to ensure medical devices are securely fastened during outdoor activities.