Sep 27
This from Max Weingardt:
Evanston Fire Dept hosted MABAS Division 3 dive training Thursday night at the Church Street power boat ramp
Max Weingardt photo
Max Weingardt photo
Max Weingardt photo
Max Weingardt photo
Max Weingardt photo
Max Weingardt photo
Tim Olk submitted the following images of the recovery efforts at Gillson Park in Wilmette last night.
Chicago helicopter 6-8-2 flies overhead in an effort to spot the missing swimmer. Tim Olk photo
Evanston Fire Department divers are met with rough waves as they search for the swimmer. Tim Olk photo
Divers scan the area from the breakwater in addition to others woking in the water. Tim Olk photo
Divers receive instructions from the dive master on the beach regarding the search efforts. Tim Olk photo
An Evanston diver riding a sled pulled by the waverunner is ready to enter the water if they find the lost swimmer. Tim Olk photo
Divers are also stationed on the southern breakwater bounding the area where the swimmer was last seen. Tim Olk photo
The rescue/recovery operation took place over an hour at dusk in Lake Michigan off the beach at Gillson Park near the Wilmette/Evanston border. Tim Olk photo
A Wilmette diver rests after searching in the choppy waters for an hour. Tim Olk photo
The swimmer was found roughly an hour into the rescue operation and was attended to by several paramedics. He was transported from the beach to a waiting Wilmette Fire Department ambulance on a 6x6 ATV and then transported to Evanston Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Tim Olk photo
Tim has a gallery with more images HERE.
Shortly after 3PM on Weddnesday, Prospect Heights received a 9-1-1 call from a motorist who claimed to see two children in a pond near the Prospect Heights Public Works building in the 500 block of Piper Lane. Police arrived and found an unattended bicycle and no children in the area. Prospect Heights divers and firefighters responded, and upon seeing no children in the area requested a response from all on-duty MABAS Division 3 divers and neighboring mutual-aid divers so that the murky pond could be checked in the event that their were missing children.
A bicycle that might belong to a missing child is seen near a pond which divers are searching in the event that a child has drowned. Larry Shapiro photo
Wheeling Fire Department divers suit up to assist divers from Prospect Heights search a pond where two children were reportedly seen in the water. Larry Shapiro photo
Divers responded from Wheeling, Long Grove, Deerfield, Northbrook, Wilmette, North Maine, Glenview, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Highwood, and Winnetka. Ambulances on the scene were from Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect.
Divers and support personnel check their equipment before the divers enter the water. Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk were at the scene and Larry submitted several images.
Several divers went into the water as did a boat with side-scan Kongsberg sonar capable of mapping the pond floor. There was some question as to exactly what was seen by the 9-1-1 caller, and after searching the pond for an hour and examining several images mapped by the sonar, the searches were terminated.
The sonar unit is lowered into the water where the diver will make the necessary adjustments for depth before it can begin to create a map of the pond's bottom. Larry Shapiro photo
Wheeling Fire Department divers responded to Prospect Heights with Dive Rescue 23 and a boat. Larry Shapiro photo
Northbrook Dive Rescue 10 responded with divers and the MABAS Division 3 side-scan soar. Larry Shapiro photo
A gallery with more images can be viewed HERE.
On Thursday, a Metra train passenger spotted a body among some branches and muck in the DesPlaines River near Belmont and River Road. The River Grove Fire Department investigated and confirmed the need for a recovery operation. MABAS Division 20 requested divers from MABAS Division 3 for the swift water rescue due to the current from the flooded river. The Chicago Tribune has an article HERE .
Tim Olk was at the scene and submitted a series of images that documents the recovery effort. Additional images can be viewed HERE.
MABAS Division 3 divers from Northbrook make their way into the Des Plaines River near River Grove to retrieve a woman's body. Tim Olk photo
One diver makes his way through the swift current as his partner keeps a hand on his safety line. Tim Olk photo
Both divers reach the debris and prepare to free the body. Tim Olk photo
The swift current is apparent here as a diver makes his way back to the shore. Tim Olk photo
Divers carry their supplies from the river to the decon area after the recovery was completed. Tim Olk photo
The Highland Park Dive Squad and boat were brought to the scene as part of the MABAS Division 3 dive box. Tim Olk photo
Feb 21
As the primary diver is in the water, a backup diver holds a tethered safety line. Additional support personnel assist with the safety lines. Tim Olk photo
This past week was a time for many area fire departments to take advantage of the moderate weather and conduct dive drills in various icy bodies of water. The MABAS Division 3 Dive Team conducted training at the Underwriters Labs cmpus in Northbrook. Tim Olk was there photographing the training exercise and submitted a few images.
One diver stands ready to enter the water as the other is briefed by the training officer. Tim Olk photo
A diver in the water receives instructions from another member of the dive team while training. Tim Olk photo
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
