| Name: | Martin Nolan |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Chicago Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Type of Duty: | Water rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2013 |
| Incident City: | Chicago |
| Year of Incident: | 2012 |
| Incident Location Type: | Water/Waterfront |
| Incident Attribute: |
Lieutenant Michael Nolan of the Chicago Fire Department was awarded the Medal of Valor for his efforts to rescue a stranded woman in icy Lake Michigan water in Chicago, Illinois on February 19, 2012.
At 6:30PM, firefighters responded to a distressed person call in the water at Montrose Harbor. The female victim was stranded in icy water about 25 feet from the shoreline. After securing himself in a flotation device, Lieutenant Nolan climbed over a locked gate to get to the victim. He threw life preservers towards her, but she was too exhausted to reach them. Acting quickly, Nolan jumped into the frigid water towards the nearest flotation device, put it on, and swam out to the victim. When he reached her, she was beginning to sink below the surface of the water. He grabbed on to her. With his flotation device attached to a tow line, he made it back to shore with the victim, who was treated for water ingestion and hypothermia. She was taken to the hospital in stable condition thanks to Nolan’s courageous effort.
Citation:
“Heroism & Community Service Awards,” Firehouse, April, 2013.
Journal of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Chicago, Illinois, March 14, 2012.