Boat capsizes in Busse Lake

Elk Grove Village fire officials were called to the scene of a capsized boat and possible drowning Sunday afternoon in the Busse Woods Forest Preserve.

When they arrived, however, they found the victim safe and sound.

Elk Grove Battalion Chief Robert Stecki said firefighters were dispatched to the boat docks at Busse Woods at around 3 p.m.

"The caller who flagged me down pointed to the boat that, at that point, had blown to shore with the victim, a middle-aged man," Stecki said.

Based on where the victim wound up, Stecki said the man probably hung on to the boat and the wind blew him toward shore.

"What saved the individual was the fact that he had a life vest on," Stecki said.

Because of the Northwest suburbs' new response program, paramedics from neighboring departments such as Rolling Meadows and Palatine also responded to the call.

Stecki said firefighters were able to converse with the victim by using his son as an interpreter.