Illinois first responders conducted a complex multi-agency rescue to save a horse stranded in fast-moving floodwaters along Coon Creek after overnight storms caused the creek to overflow. Over 20 personnel, including swiftwater rescue technicians and veterinarian Dr. Nicky Wessel, coordinated efforts from both the water and shore to reach the horse, which was trapped about 600 feet from shore on a small patch of land surrounded by deep, strong currents. The horse was treated on-site for significant hypothermia before being gradually guided to safety and transported to a veterinary facility for ongoing care.

The successful rescue was credited to the collaboration between multiple agencies, including the Marengo Fire and Rescue District, the Wisconsin Large Animal Emergency Response Technical Response Team, and dispatchers who coordinated the operation. Officials expressed gratitude for the critical veterinary care provided during the rescue and noted that the horse’s condition is being closely monitored following the dramatic incident.