| Name: | Jacob Randich |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Channahon Fire Protection District |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Type of Duty: | Water rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2010 |
| Incident City: | Wilmington |
| Year of Incident: | 2009 |
| Incident Location Type: | Water/Waterfront |
| Incident Attribute: | Traffic accidents |
Lieutenant Jacob Randich of the Channahon Fire Department was awarded the Medal of Valor for his efforts to rescue a victim from a submerged vehicle in Wilmington, Illinois on January 23, 2009.
In the early evening, the Channahon Fire Department was dispatched to the Harborside Marina in Wilmington. A driver was submerged in frigid water in his vehicle. Firefighter Tom Metes of the Custer Park Volunteer Fire Department was off-duty when he heard the man’s cries for help. He alerted authorities and stayed with the victim until help arrived.
Once the Channahon Fire Department arrived, Lieutenant Randich put on his “Gumby” water immersion suit and dove into the water, swimming to the man’s pickup truck, which was about 25 yards from the shore. Randich made it to the victim, and after some difficulty removing the seatbelt, he swam with the victim in hand to shore. Randich and the victim were pulled from the water by Channahon firefighters and police. Despite having a body temperature of 88 degrees when he was pulled from the water, the victim fully recovered thanks to Randich’s efforts.
Citations:
“Breaking rules, saving lives in Morris, Illinois,” Morris Daily Herald, May 28, 2010.
“Guardian angel watching over crash into river,” The Herald News Online, January 28, 2009.