Window washer rescued from side of River North high-rise

Officers were dispatched for reports of the window washer hanging from the 53rd floor of the building near Dearborn and Ontario streets, according to Chicago police.

By Luke Wilusz and David Struett

Authorities are responding to a window washer handing from a high-rise Aug. 20, 2019, near Ontario and Dearborn streets in River North.

A window washer was rescued from the side of a high-rise building Tuesday after he was left dangling in the air in River North.

Authorities were dispatched about 12:10 p.m. to Dearborn and Ontario and found the washer hanging from the 53rd Floor of a building, according to Chicago Fire Dept. spokesman Larry Langford.

“His lines got messed up,” according to Langford, who was unsure if the washer’s line had snapped.

Another angle of the window washer. pic.twitter.com/WJrtUDgacJ
— John Dodge (@dodgerman) August 20, 2019

Fire crews reached the man by breaking a window on the 53rd or 54th Floor and attached another rope to him, Langford said. Crews tried to pull him inside, but the window was too small for the man.

A special operation team went to the roof and pulled up the man about 80 or 90 feet, according to Langford. He was checked out by paramedics and was in good condition.

Dearborn was closed between Ohio and Ontario as crews worked to remove equipment used in the rescue, Chicago police said.

Next Up In News

Netflix looks to curb password sharing, considers ads

Aiming to predict COVID, future pandemics better, CDC opens infectious diseases forecasting center

Joliet farmers wrangle cows thrown from semitrailer after crash on Interstate 80

1 killed, 3 wounded in shootings Tuesday in Chicago

Obama relatives sue Milwaukee school alleging racial bias

Unmasked transit: Pritzker ends mask mandates in public transportation, airports