Navy Pier Visitors Rescue Man Who Jumped Into Lake Michigan

CHICAGO, IL — A man was pulled from Lake Michigan by onlookers at Navy Pier over the weekend after he jumped into the water, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The man, who was about 21 years old, was walking around the pier near 600 East Grand Avenue at around 11:35 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, the report stated. Omaha, Nebraska, residents David Martin, 23, and Eilis Smith, Martin's 24-year-old fiancée, told the Tribune that the man appeared to be hallucinating.

The couple tried to keep the man from the edge, but they were unsuccessful, and he flung himself into the water, the report stated. Martin and Smith then began yelling for help, the report added.

Ron Romero, a sound man for an event at the pier, heard the couple's calls and went over to help, according to the report. After Romero reached the couple, Martin stripped to his T-shirt and underwear and leaped into the lake to rescue the man, who was floating face down in the water, the report stated.

Meanwhile, Romero gathered more people to help, and they collected tablecloths to pull Martin and the man from the lake, the report stated. Once out of the water, they were wrapped in fabric to stay warm, the report added.

The man was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and was in critical condition, the report stated. The man was not identified in the report.

Martin, who was checked for hypothermia at the pier, told the Tribune the day after the rescue that he was glad he could help:

"We were just lucky the night unfolded the way it did. … If we hadn’t, he might have gone in and no one would have been around to see it. So we’re just really grateful that we were able to be there when we were needed."

More via the Chicago Tribune

Navy Pier (photo via Patch archive)

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