The coroner has identified an elderly man who died after he fell approximately 20 feet from a ladder before being found unresponsive by a neighbor in Ringwood.
The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District responded around 10:55 a.m. on October 2 to the 5600 block of North Ridgeway Road in Ringwood for a report of a fall victim.
Wonder Lake Fire Protection District Lt. Patrick DeVore said a neighbor called 911 after finding the victim.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office identified the victim this week as Richard Himpelmann, 81, of Ringwood.
Himpelmann was reported to be unconscious and not breathing when they were found.
Paramedics arrived and found Himpelmann, who was outside and had been cutting a branch off a tree, DeVore said.
He fell from his ladder from approximately 20 feet in the air. It is unclear how long Himpelmann had been injured before being found.
DeVore said paramedics confirmed Himpelmann was still not breathing and they performed lifesaving measures, including CPR.
A LifeNet medical helicopter was placed on standby initially but canceled due to Himpelmann being in too unstable of a condition for air transport.
Paramedics rushed Himpelmann to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry in critical condition.
The coroner’s office said Himpelmann later died in the hospital. An autopsy was performed on him on Tuesday.
A visitation and funeral service for Himpelmann is set for Monday at Justen Funeral Home in McHenry.
The incident occurred on the same street and block as another serious call that the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District responded to in July.
A landscaping company worker was flown to the hospital with serious injuries following a burn pile mishap at a home across the street.