A man was safely rescued after he climbed a radio tower where he began yelling and refused to come down for nearly two hours Wednesday afternoon in Wonder Lake, prompting a major fire department response.
The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District, Wonder Lake Police Department and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday to the area of South Drive and East Drive in Wonder Lake for a mental health call.
Sheriff’s deputies discovered a man climbing a radio tower adjacent to a building in the 7300 block of Hancock Drive.
Deputies reported the man was refusing to come down and requested the fire department to assist. The tower appeared to be at least 60 feet tall.
Police shut down traffic on East Drive and also shut down Hancock Drive from Wonder Lake Road to Wonder Lake Drive and began working to negotiate with the subject.
Bystanders reported the man was yelling, making threats and continued to refuse to come down.
Police radio traffic indicated residents in the area called about the subject walking in their yards just before the incident.
Wonder Lake Fire Chief Matt Yegge said the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level for a high-angle technical rescue response.
Fire departments from throughout Lake County and McHenry County responded to the scene, including well over a dozen highly trained rescue technicians, “due to the significant height of the structure and the complexity of the situation,” Yegge said.
A LifeStar medical helicopter was called and landed at the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District station on Wonder Lake Road on standby.
The sheriff’s office issued an alert warning motorists to avoid the area due to the police activity and road closures.
Yegge said law enforcement personnel successfully managed communications and negotiations with the man.
Two firefighters eventually climbed the tower and made contact with the man around 2:15 p.m.
He was wearing no shoes and had rope around his body that appeared to be tied to the tower from his wrist.
Yegge said they were able to safely bring him down to the ground a short time later and he was taken to an awaiting ambulance. He was transported to the hospital.
“The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District is grateful for the outstanding cooperation and professionalism demonstrated by all agencies involved in this incident. We extend our sincere thanks to the neighboring fire departments, law enforcement agencies, MABAS technical rescue teams, and the flight crew whose coordinated efforts contributed to a safe resolution,” Yegge said.
It is unclear if any charges will be filed against the man.