Water reclamation boat crew recognized for river rescue

17-Jul-13 – The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago says the crew of one of its pollution control boats participated in a rescue on the Chicago River last month.

During the June 28 parade for the Chicago Blackhawks, a MWRD boat was on the river after inspecting water intake cribs. Near the Lake Shore Drive Bridge, the crew spotted a man struggling to get out of the river by climbing a wall.

“We could see that a man was struggling to escape but because the wall was so high, it would have been nearly impossible,” recalled Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos, who was on the boat along with Commissioner Kari Steele, the boat’s captain, J. Jacob, pollution control technicians Robert Chmela and Dave Zintak, and other crewmembers.

Captain Jacob guided the boat over to the unidentified man, who at first refused to leave the wall. Chmela and Zintak were able to coax him back into the water and over to their boat.

“We were lucky he could swim,” said Commissioner Steele. “That helped us reach him so the crew could pull him up the side and into the boat.”

A ceremony honoring the crew was held on Wednesday.

Photo: MWRD boat on the Chicago River on August 9, 2012. Click on image to view larger version.