Person Planning To Jump Into Fox River Found Safe After Hours-Long Search: Batavia PD

BATAVIA, IL — After hours of searching Monday, local law enforcement found a missing person who was reportedly planning to jump into the Fox River, officials said in an update Tuesday.

Batavia and Geneva police officers were dispatched at 4:17 p.m. Monday to the area near Fabyan Bridge, which crosses the Fox River, after receiving a report of a "despondent subject" considering jumping into the river, officials said.

In an effort to locate the person, officers extensively searched the area around the bridge and on the Fox River Trail system. Crews from the Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles fire departments were called to the scene to launch emergency boats into the river. But ultimately, officials said they ended the fruitless search at nightfall.

Over the next few hours, Batavia police said they continued to receive information about the missing person, prompting law enforcement to use cellular data to search areas around the city, including Braeburn Marsh — between Western Avenue, Fabyan Parkway and Randall Road — as well as a stretch of northwest Batavia and southwest Geneva.

To aid in the search, the Kane County Sheriff's Office deployed a drone and Batavia Emergency Services and Disaster Agency provided artificial lighting.

It wasn't until close to 10 p.m. that officers made contact with the person via telephone, leading police back to the area around the Fabyan Bridge. Using drones, the search party found the person lying safely among heavy brush between the westside Fox River rail and North Batavia Avenue, just south of the bridge, officials said.

The person, who police did not identify, was taken in an ambulance to an area hospital for medical treatment.

"The joint effort of all the emergency responders involved in this incident led to the successful outcome of safely locating this individual in need of medical assistance," Batavia police said. "The Batavia Police Department would like to thank all of the agencies that assisted in the search."

Anyone who is struggling can get help by dialing 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.