On Sunday afternoon, a tragic jet ski accident occurred on the Fox River near McHenry, Illinois, which led to the discovery of a deceased man. The incident prompted a significant emergency response involving multiple fire departments and rescue teams.
Emergency Response
The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District received a call around 1:54 p.m. and immediately dispatched rescue teams to the area of Kief’s Reef, located at 3505 South Wright Road in unincorporated McHenry. In response to the severity of the situation, several other local fire departments, including those from Cary, McHenry, and Wauconda, were called in to assist.
To bolster the search and rescue efforts, the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated, escalating the response to the box alarm level. This activation provided additional resources, including specialized equipment such as divers, boats, and sonar to aid in locating the missing individual.
Search and Recovery Operation
Fire crews were staged near the marina at 3600 Riverside Drive, just south of Route 176. The search operation lasted over an hour. At around 3 p.m., rescue teams located the missing man in close proximity to his jet ski. Unfortunately, he was found dead in the water.
After the discovery, the emergency response was scaled back, and crews began demobilizing and clearing the scene.
Acknowledgment of Support
The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District expressed gratitude to all neighboring agencies that provided assistance during the operation and those that covered other district needs during the incident. Their efforts were instrumental in ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated response.
