Two men reported missing found alive
State Journal Register (Springfield, Illinois Newspaper)
A large-scale search for two Springfield men feared drowned in the Sangamon River was called off Sunday evening when the pair returned to land unharmed.
Andrew Larson, 20, and Dan Leingang, 22, went swimming in the river near South Tower and Darnell roads about 4 p.m. and told their friend, Michael Yucus, that they would meet him in about an hour at the bridge next to the Dawson water plant on Mechanicsburg Road.
Yucus, who can't swim himself, said he arrived at 5 p.m and waited for a hour before he started yelling their names and decided to call 911.
"I really thought I was in trouble," Yucus said when he saw no signs of his friends.
The Sangamon Rescue Squad responded about 5:30 p.m. along with Mechanicsburg firefighters and the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office and began lining up along the shore and putting boats in the water while ambulance crews waited nearby.
Just before 6:30 p.m., Larson and Leingang emerged from a wooded area near the bridge.
Though relieved, Yucus promised to give his friends a hard time. "I was standing in the middle of the bridge for a hour. Somebody stopped and asked if I needed help. They thought I was going to jump," he said.
(WS) AKA WORM
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Lt. Dan
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EvilStimpy
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