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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to commend Officer Rob Horner and
4paramedic Martin Carlen for their heroic and lifesaving
5actions on Silver Lake on September 8, 2021; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Silver Lake is located in Madison County; the
7lake is 550 acres in size and approximately 22 feet deep at its
8deepest point; anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish at
9Silver Lake, including Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and
10Largemouth Bass; and
 
11    WHEREAS, On September 8, 2021 at approximately 2 p.m.,
12Highland Police Officer Rob Horner was signaled to stop by a
13driver, who alerted the officer to a capsized boat on Silver
14Lake; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Officer Horner arrived at the spillway and
16witnessed an upside-down sailboat with two passengers holding
17fast to the side; and
 
18    WHEREAS, With winds at least 20 mph that day, the men
19clinging to the boat could not hear Officer Horner calling to
20them; one of the men tried to climb onto the boat and kept
21falling back into the water; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Officer Horner made a call to the dispatcher
2requesting the rescue team and EMS, but he quickly realized
3the need to dive into the water; while waiting for the
4requested support to arrive, he began swimming the 150 yards
5to the two men in distress; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Due to the choppiness of the water, Officer
7Horner used the backstroke to conserve energy as he swam
8against the waves and wind; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The two fishermen were 76 and 83 years of age,
10respectively, and one had lost his life jacket and had his leg
11tangled in a rope; Officer Horner dove underwater to free the
12man's leg; eventually, the boat was flipped into position, and
13the passengers were able to regain their seats safely; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Meanwhile, paramedic Martin Carlen arrived and
15swam to the two men and Officer Horner; he then helped guide
16the boat to safety; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
18HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
19we commend Officer Rob Horner and paramedic Martin Carlen for
20their quick thinking, decisive actions, and teamwork that
21helped rescue two senior citizens from Silver Lake on

 

 

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1September 8, 2021; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
3presented to Officer Rob Horner and paramedic Martin Carlen as
4an expression of our esteem and respect.