
DES MOINES, Iowa -- A dangerous water rescue on the Des Moines River Monday is highlighting the importance of special equipment used by rescuers.
Workers with the Des Moines Parks and Rec Department called 911 o report a man in the river near Sixth Avenue.
Rescue crews encouraged the man to come to shore but he swam away and grabbed onto a piece of ice. When the man wouldn't come to shore, one rescuer jumped into the 33-degree water in what's called a "mustang survival suit."
The yellow suit covers you from head to toe and the only thing that shows is your face, to see and breathe. Rescuers can be in the water in that suit for 30 minutes to an hour.
Meanwhile, authorities are not releasing the name or the condition of the man in the river. Rescuers say he is lucky to be alive since he was in the water for over 20 minutes.
Hugo S LaVia
“Rescuers say he is lucky to be alive since he was in the water for over 20 minutes.”
I don’t think he wanted to live, why else would he jump in the river?