VIDEO: Watch Joliet Police Save Man From Drowning, He Was Screaming For Help In Downtown's Des Plaines River

JOLIET, IL — Quick action from overnight officers at the Joliet Police Department saved the life of a 25-year-old man who nearly died by drowning before dawn on Thursday morning in the Des Plaines River.

According to the agency, at approximately 4:25 a.m., an officer in a parking lot west of the Joliet Police Department heard a man calling for help from the Des Plaines River. Additional officers responded and found the man in the water on the west side of the river, near the southern end of the riverwalk in Bicentennial Park.

Officers deployed water rescue equipment and threw ropes to him, and he was able to hold on until the Joliet Fire Department arrived. Fire personnel entered the water and determined the man was too weak to climb a ladder. A rescue boat was deployed, and the man was safely removed from the river, the Joliet police revealed.

The 25-year-old man was transported by the Joliet Fire Department to Saint Joseph Medical Center for treatment. He told officers he slipped and fell into the river and was not attempting to harm himself, nor did he appear in crisis, according to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English.

"It is not known how long the male had been in the water," English explained.

“Our officers quickly located the individual and took immediate steps to keep him safe until the Joliet Fire Department arrived. Together, they worked seamlessly to bring him out of the water. This is what our community can expect, when someone is in need, Joliet’s first responders will show up, work together, and do everything possible to serve our community," Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans said.

“This rescue highlights the trust and coordination that exists between the Joliet Fire Department and Joliet Police Department. Every call we respond to is a team effort, and we rely on each other to achieve the best outcome,” Joliet Fire Chief Jeff Carey remarked.