Heavy rainfall early Saturday morning caused a creek to overflow in the Far Northwest suburbs, leading to a dramatic rescue as crews pulled a horse from freezing floodwaters.
Firefighters and sheriff’s deputies responded to the 22900 block of Anthony Road in unincorporated Marengo, where the situation quickly turned into a complex animal rescue.
When crews arrived, they discovered a horse stranded in rising water about 600 feet from shore.
Officials said recent storms caused Coon Creek to spill over its banks, and they believe the current swept the horse away overnight.
With no clear indication of how long the animal had been trapped in the cold water, responders immediately began developing a rescue plan.
A team used a boat to reach the horse, while additional responders and a veterinarian entered the water from shore to assist, authorities said.
Crews later transported the veterinarian by boat to a small peninsula where the horse had managed to find stable footing.
Officials said the veterinarian began treating and stabilizing the animal, which showed signs of hypothermia.
As the rescue effort expanded, more responders arrived to help guide the horse across the creek, estimated to be about 15 feet deep.
Once the horse reached the water’s edge, nearly two dozen responders worked together to move it up to the roadway.
Crews then loaded the horse into a trailer and transported it to a veterinary facility.
During the operation, officials took one person who assisted in the rescue to a local hospital for evaluation after experiencing cold exposure.
“It was a challenging and time-sensitive rescue, but we are pleased with the outcome,” fire chief John Kimmel said. “Floodwaters can be unpredictable and dangerous for both people and animals. We appreciate the coordinated efforts of all personnel who assisted with bringing this incident to a successful conclusion.”