Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) firefighters successfully rescued two men stranded on a small island in the White River early this morning.
Incident Timeline
- 1:26 a.m. Emergency dispatch alerted IFD units, including Tactical Dive Teams 7 and 14, to the scene at 207 S. White River Pkwy E Dr.
- 1:34 a.m. Yelling was heard south of the original location, leading rescuers to the stranded men.
- 2:05 a.m. IFD Boat 14 launched from Belmont with crews navigating icy waters.
- 2:43 a.m. The victims, aged 21 and 43, were secured in the rescue boat.
- 2:45 a.m. Both men reached the shore unharmed but cold and were evaluated by Beech Grove EMS.
The Rescue
The men explained they had been attempting to retrieve stolen bikes from the island when their small black raft floated away, leaving them stranded for about 90 minutes. A bystander heard their calls for help and dialed 911.
IFD teams faced several challenges, including scouting an accessible boat ramp and navigating icy conditions. Despite these obstacles, the operation concluded successfully under the command of Battalion Chief Dudley Taylor.
The men declined further medical treatment after warming up in an ambulance and signed a statement of release before departing the scene.
