Boaters, Firefighters Rescue Man from Lake Zurich

A man fishing in a small boat got caught up in a wave that tossed him into the lake, where boaters and firefighters rescued him, authorities said.

The man rented a boat from Bill’s Boats, Bait & Marina Tuesday and was fishing near the promenade on W. Main Street when a larger boat created a large wave, throwing him into the water, witnesses said.

The man was in the water for a few minutes until people on another boat helped him and brought him to shore where Lake Zurich firefighters assisted him, Fire Chief David Wheelock said. 

The man was treated and released at the scene, Wheelock said.

Dennis Abbott, owner of Bill’s Boats, watched the scene unfold. The victim, who is in his 60s, had been eager to go fishing after recuperating from knee surgery, Abbott said. The man was fishing when another boat created a wave that tipped the boat over, he said.

“I thought he was dead in the water because I didn’t see any movement,” Abbott said. The man ended up dog paddling and putting his life preserver under his arm while clinging to the boat, he said.

The boat that caused the wake turned around and kept going on the lake, he said. Another boater came to the man’s rescue, pulling him on the back of the boat and taking him to shore, Abbott said.

Lake Zurich firefighters did a great job helping the man, adding he was impressed with how firefighters handled the situation.