Close Call For ATV Rider On Bangs Lake

CHICAGO (CBS) -- It was a close call for an ATV rider Thursday night in the Chain-O-Lakes region.

At 10:18 p.m., Wauconda Fire District Battalion Chief Bill Hoover says 911 got a call that an ATV rider had gone through the ice on Bangs Lake.

Hoover says four rescuers headed out in special winter weather water gear with cool customized drives. Two of them went first and got to the 30-year-old victim within 10 minutes of his friend calling for help. The other two rescuers came soon after with an inflatable raft.

Battalion Chief Hoover says the rescuers had to walk about a half mile out into the icy lake.

When they got to the victim, "he was floating by hanging on to one of the tires of the ATV," Hoover said.

Hoover says firefighters got the victim out of the water and pulled him back to shore on the inflatable raft.

He says the victim was very cold and could talk, but he couldn't walk the entire way back.

Hoover says the important thing is that the victim's friend called 911 before attempting any rescue of his own. He says that, had the friend's phone gotten wet and been unusable, the story could have had a very different ending.

The victim was taken to Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. His condition is unknown.