Wendella Boat Crew Rescues Man Who Fell from Chicago River Bridge

Passengers and crew members sprang into action to pull the unresponsive man from the frigid waters and perform CPR, saving his life.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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On a Friday in February, a 65-year-old man fell from the Michigan Avenue bridge into the icy Chicago River. Fortunately, the Wendella Linnea tour boat and its six-person crew were nearby and quickly sprang into action, pulling the unresponsive man from the water and performing CPR to resuscitate him before handing him over to Chicago firefighters.

Why it matters

This dramatic rescue highlights the importance of proper training and preparedness for unexpected emergencies, as well as the willingness of both crew members and passengers to step up and save a life. It also underscores the potential dangers of the Chicago River, especially during the colder months when the water temperatures can be dangerously low.

The details

As the Wendella Linnea was finishing up its late-morning architecture tour and preparing to dock, the crew heard a splash and spotted the man in the water. Boat captain Joe Ratzek, a retired firefighter, immediately sounded the alarm and directed his crew to pull the man from the river. Video footage shows the deck hands working quickly to bring the unresponsive man aboard, where a nurse passenger and another guest performed CPR until he was revived.

  • On Friday, February 14, 2026, the incident occurred around late-morning.

The players

Wendella Linnea

A tour boat operated by Wendella Boats that was finishing up its architecture tour when the incident occurred.

Joe Ratzek

The captain of the Wendella Linnea, who is a retired firefighter and directed the rescue efforts.

Chicago Firefighters

Emergency responders who took the rescued man to the hospital after he was revived on the boat.

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What’s next

The Chicago Fire Department is investigating the incident to determine the cause of the man's fall from the bridge.

The takeaway

This rescue operation demonstrates the importance of proper training and preparedness for emergency situations, as well as the willingness of both crew members and passengers to work together to save a life. It also highlights the potential dangers of the Chicago River, especially during the colder months, and the need for increased safety measures to prevent such incidents from occurring.