Troy the horse recovers from floodwater rescue, returns home to Marengo barn

McHENRY COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- A horse rescued from danger is home again in the far northwest suburbs.

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Troy was rescued last weekend in unincorporated Marengo.

He was trapped in Croon Creek when heavy rain swamped the area.

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The rescue took a full day and required veterinarians, fire crews and swift water rescue teams.

Marengo Fire Chief John Kimmel said his team was focused on getting to the horse.

"How are we going to get there? That was my immediate diagnosis. How are we going to get there?" he said.

Eventually, teams were able to guide Troy across the creek, which had swelled from 3- to 15-feet deep. In total, roughly four dozen people worked nonstop for nearly 12 hours to rescue the animal in distress.

He was treated for hypothermia but is better and returned to the Marengo farm on Wednesday.

"He was perky. His ears were up. He looked good. His lungs were clear," said Dr. Nicky Wessel, with Cutting Edge Equine Veterinary Services.

It was an emotional reunion.

"As soon as he got off the trailer, he wasn't even concerned about me. He was just looking at all the cameras," owner Ashley Beaulieu said. "I think he's gonna say, 'guess what I did guys? Wasn't that funny? Look how cool I am. I'm the celebrity of the town.'"

Nearly 20 years old, veterinarian Dr. Wessel says Troy was showing he had plenty of fight left in him.

"I can't believe he, you know, stuck through all of that. With him being cold and hungry, and he fought for his life. And he's doing amazing," Beaulieu said.

Perhaps no one is happier about Troy's return than his friend and neighbor, Shiloh. The two have been together most of their lives.