Evansville emergency crews rescued a person from the cold waters of the Ohio River. WNIN’s John Gibson has the story:
First responders were dispatched to a report of a vehicle in the water off Ohio Street, near the Joan Marchand Bridge, shortly before 9:00 Thursday night.
Police arrived and spotted a person in the water, hanging on to a tree.
Evansville Fire Department Division Chief Mike Larson says when the EFD’s water rescue team arrived, three swimmers got in the water and made contact with the victim.
Larson says two members of a rope rescue team helped secure the EFD swimmers.
The rescuers removed the victim from the water about 16 minutes after 9-1-1 operators received the call.
AMR paramedics treated the patient for hypothermia.
Larson said the patient was conscious when AMR took the victim to a hospital.
There was no word on the person’s name.
Larson noted the water temperature was 52°.
Temperatures below 70° are considered cold and a person exposed to water between 50° and 60° will become unconscious in 1-to-2 hours.