Community Corner

'Guardian Angel' Recognized for Saving Toddler

An Addison firefighter/paramedic received a Citizens' Lifesaving Award plaque.

An Addison firefighter/paramedic recalled the moment he was called to action to save a toddler who fell into the Fox River on May 11.

“I’m just glad that I could be there at that time. It was a fluke incident that I ended up fishing on the river and didn’t call it quits. I saw the mom yelling and running to the river,” said Joel “Jay” Arnier. “I knew I had to do something. I got to the shore and got to work and luckily, thankfully, it all worked out good. I’m very happy.”

Arnier received a lifesaving medal from McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren, an award Nygren noted was rarely given. He also received a Citizen’s Lifesaving Award plaque.

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“He happened to be in his bass boat fishing on the Fox River, when she decided she was going to go swimming, but she doesn’t know how to swim,” Nygren said. “He performed CPR and other life saving techniques. Without your quick training, willingness to help and life-saving effort this little girl would not have survived.”

Trisha Schuler, mother of the 20-month-old toddler, Kaitlyn Winoker, said she considered Arnier a guardian angel.

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“He didn’t know her. He was a stranger, but he did what he was trained to do. He’s definitely Kaitlyn’s guardian angel,” Schuler said. Kaitlyn’s father, David Winoker, also said he was very glad Arnier was on the river that day.

Kaitlyn spent one night at Rockford Memorial Hospital. Schuler said her daughter is back to normal now and active as ever.

According to police reports, Schuler went upstairs in her home on the Fox River, in unincorporated McHenry.  When she returned downstairs, her three youngest children were missing. Schuler found the children by the Fox River.

Schuler said Kaitlyn was probably in the river for about 5 minutes. Schuler pulled the toddler out. Arnier arrived and offered assistance.

"It was very scary. It's an image I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. If he wasn't there, she would have died," Schuler said.

After the incident, Schuler’s seven other children were removed by the Department of Child and Family Services, but they were returned on May 13.

Schuler said she hopes to take CPR lessons this summer to be prepared for emergency situations.

“This summer, I’ll have more time, I’m going to take a CPR class. I wouldn’t want this to happen to anyone else’s child,” Schuler said.


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