Chicago police detective, firefighter come to aid of capsized boaters

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A day of relaxation quickly turned into an emergency for a police detective and a firefighter on Chicago's lakefront and five people are alive thanks to their actions.

Detective Donovan Jackson was off-duty on Friday when he and firefighter Rylenski Strong were riding their jet skis on the water.

They came across a capsized speed boat and four people in the 60-degree water. A fifth person was under the boat, surviving in an air pocket.

Jackson and Strong jumped into action with some old training.

"We were Chicago Park District lifeguards, oddly enough, so of course once you're a lifeguard you're always a lifeguard," said Jackson. "A cop is never off duty. Neither is a firefighter. So I'm happy to be in the right place at the right time."

Jackson and Strong shuttled the victims to shore where emergency crews were waiting to treat them. Everyone is ok.