Horse Swept Away In Floodwaters Saved In Harrowing Rescue

McHENRY COUNTY, IL — A horse trapped in a flooded creek was brought to safety during a harrowing hours-long rescue Saturday, according to authorities.

The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts were notified early Saturday morning about a possible animal water rescue in the 22900 block of Anthony Road in unincorporated McHenry County near Marengo, authorities said.

Responding firefighters and sheriff’s deputies found a horse standing in floodwater about 600 feet from the nearest shore, according to authorities.

“Coon Creek had overflowed its banks following recent storms, and it is believed the horse had been swept away overnight,” according to a news release from the fire and rescue districts. “With cold water temperatures and an unknown amount of time spent in the water, the situation quickly became time sensitive.”

A veterinarian waded from shore and was brought by boat to a small peninsula where the horse had taken footing and worked to stabilize the animal, which was suffering from hypothermia, authorities said.

The horse was guided across the creek, estimated to be about 15 feet deep, and once it was at the creek’s edge, nearly two dozen personnel worked together to move the animal to the road, according to authorities. The horse was loaded into a trailer and taken to a veterinary facility for continued care, authorities said, adding it was late afternoon by the time the animal was removed from the scene.

One person who had initially assisted with the rescue was brought to a hospital due to cold exposure, according to authorities.