Woman rescued after five hours in the river

Carpentersville fire rescue personnel pulled a 48-year-old Carpentersville woman from the Fox River this morning about five hours after she fell into the water.

While walking along the river in the Fox River Shores Forest Preserve about 2:30 a.m., the woman fell into the flood waters and drifted about 150 yards before grabbing a tree to keep herself afloat.

Carpentersville Fire Chief John Schuldt said the department received a call just after 7 a.m. from a passerby who heard the woman's call for help while walking along the Fox River Trail.

Firefighters could not see the woman due to high water and heavy brush along the river bank, but rescuers were able to direct a boat to her location after maintaining voice contact with her.

The woman had managed to pull herself up onto the tree but was still partially submerged when rescuers reached her.

Schuldt said the victim did not have any visible injuries but was taken to Sherman Hospital in Elgin.

Crews from East Dundee, West Dundee, Countryside Fire Protection District and Rutland-Dundee Fire Protection District assisted in the rescue.