Dramatic Illinois Water Rescue Saves Horse Stranded in Floodwaters

On Saturday, April 4, Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts received a once-in-a-lifetime kind of emergency call: to rescue a horse stuck in floodwaters!

Flooding in Northern Illinois

Last week, the majority of Northern Illinois saw around 2 inches of rainfall, causing significant flooding in many places throughout the Stateline area.

Flooded trails may have pressed pause on taking a walk in some of our local parks and forest preserves, but flooding also led to a terrifying water rescue by Coon Creek near Marengo, Illinois on Saturday.

Horse Rescue at Coon Creek

On Saturday morning (April 4) crews from the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts were called to Coon Creek to help a horse stranded in floodwaters nearly 600 feet from the shore.

When crews arrived, they found the horse clinging to a tiny peninsula, in fast-moving floodwaters that was about 15 feet deep.

The horse was suffering from hypothermia, shivering, and exposed to the icy waters. Every moment counted. A crew, along with a veterinarian, hopped on a boat to reach the horse and begin care on-site, while other crews remained on shore preparing for a full-blown rescue.

Thankfully, this heroic rescue has a happy ending. Rescue crews were able to get the horse to shore safely, but the entire operation took over 8 hours...in freezing cold water!

Cutting Edge Equine Veterinary Services posted an update on a horse that says:

When we reached shore the horse was too tired to get up so we ALL pulled him safely out of the watered fields and administered more medical treatments before loading him on the glide into Shelley’s trailer who had been waiting for the horse and Dr Nicky to cross the river all day LOL!! We got him to Kendall Road Equine Hospital for monitoring and he was up and standing before Dr. Nicky left that evening!!

It took nearly two dozen responders working together to move the horse from the water and to a trailer, and every single one of them deserves a round of applause for their care, courage, and determination. Job very well done!