River rescue followed failed suicide attempt

(Above) A Chicago Fire Department diver climbs up to Dearborn Street near Marina City after rescuing a man who had fallen into the Chicago River on December 17. (Click on image to view larger version).

January 17, 2011 – Chicago Police have classified as an attempted suicide the incident last month in which an elderly man fell from the Dearborn Street Bridge.

The man, described as white, between the ages of 65 and 70, was rescued on December 17 by CFD scuba divers who jumped from a helicopter hovering about ten feet over the frigid Chicago River. It happened in the middle of the afternoon in front of Marina City and hundreds of witnesses.

He was taken in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A paramedic familiar with the rescue said the man was resuscitated and arrived at the hospital with a pulse and blood pressure.

Police refused to release the man’s name and without a name, Northwestern could not provide an update on his condition.

According to the police report obtained by Marina City Online, a witness tried to grab the man as he climbed over the railing of the bridge, but could not hold onto him.

The witness, a woman who was not identified, saw the man pacing on the bridge “and asked if he was ok.”

The man then handed her a Veterans Affairs identification card, a CTA card, “a pile of mail and a note with a neighbor’s name and phone number on it.” He then climbed over the railing, struggled with the woman, and jumped into the river. It was 23 degrees in downtown Chicago at the time.

The helicopter and divers just happened to be flying in the area and pulled the man out about eight minutes after the call came in to the fire department. Numerous CFD vehicles arrived on the scene, including two ambulances.