Community Corner

Deer Dies after Dramatic Rescue from Des Plaines River

A buck spent more than an hour treading water before firefighters pulled it to safety. It has since died of hypothermia.

Updated, 11:51 a.m. (Dec. 9)

A young, 300-pound buck that firefighters pulled from the Des Plaines River Monday morning in Willow Springs has died, the Chicago Tribune reports. 

The buck was taken to the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge, said Chief Jack Mancione of the Tri-State Fire District, which is the fire and EMS service provider for Willow Springs. The deer lost its heartbeat en route to the shelter, and staff was unable to revive him, according to the report. 

Updated, 10 a.m. (Dec. 9)

After more than an hour in the water, firefighters pulled the deer to safety. 

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A deer has fallen through ice on the Des Plaines River in Willow Springs, and rescuers are trying to bring him safely to shore. 

Emergency crews are on scene trying to reach the deer, who has seemingly drifted increasingly further from shore. The Tri-State Fire Protection District is working to chip away at the ice, to steer the deer back to land.

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