Illinois officers honored for saving lost man in woods during freezing temps

Two officers with the Lake County Forest Preserves police were honored on Wednesday for their quick thinking and persistence in rescuing a man lost in the Wadsworth Savanna Forest Preserve last year.

Sgt. Bradley Ehrhardt received a Meritorious Service Award, while Officer Michael Viramontes earned a Lifesaving Award for their work during the Nov. 29-30 incident.

Illinois man rescued in freezing cold

What we know:

The man was reported missing around 9 p.m. after failing to return home. With temperatures dipping to 12 degrees, officers initially found his hoodie and gloves in the brush-filled forest preserve, which lacks developed trails.

After searching for about six hours, efforts were suspended.

At sunrise, Ehrhardt reactivated the search, mobilizing all available on-duty officers. After two more hours of combing the dense woods, Viramontes located the man standing near the train tracks at the southern end of the preserve around 10 a.m.

Despite wandering all night, the man was alive, though suffering from frostbite and an irregular heartbeat, likely caused by prolonged exposure to the cold. He was transported to Condell Hospital for treatment.

The backstory:

The man told officers that the night before, he started walking in the forest preserve but became lost and unable to find his way home.

What they're saying:

"He had been wandering all night," said Cmdr. Scott Banaszynski. "Thankfully, he kept moving, which likely saved his life by helping him stay warmer than if he had stopped or fallen asleep in the freezing conditions."

"We’re incredibly grateful that he’s safe and recovering well," he added.

Officer Michael Viramontes, left, and Sgt. Bradley Ehrhardt, right, with Director of Public Safety Ron Davis. The officers were recognized for locating a man missing overnight in the frigid temperatures. | Provided

The Source: The information in this article was provided by the Lake County Forest Preserves.

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