Firefighters rescue kayaker from frigid Lake Michigan

Firefighters rescued a man from Lake Michigan after his kayak overturned in chilly waters north of Chicago on Tuesday.

The man told authorities he was kayaking a mile offshore when his kayak overturned, plunging him into 46 degree water, WBBM reports. He was wearing a wetsuit at the time.

A woman nearby reportedly heard his cries for help and dialed 911. Fire department rescuers and divers wore exposure suits to go into the water and bring the man to safety.

“It appears he just wasn’t able to get out of the water under his own power. He got to the point where he was just so hypothermic he wasn’t able to use his legs at all to get himself the last 100 feet into shore,” Wilmette Deputy Fire Chief Robert Brill said.

Paramedics rushed the diver to a nearby hospital where he was alert and talking, WBBM adds.