Two die saving cell phone from Chicago River (PHOTO)

Chicago, Illinois – “Take my car, take my job, take my life, but don’t take my cell phone” may be the message on the tombstone of 26-year-old Ken Hoang who was in town visiting from his Minnesota. He was on a late night stroll along the Chicago Riverwalk in the frigid air with two of his friends when he dropped his cell phone from the bridge. It must have been in his sight because he got on the icy rails to try and retrieve it when he plopped into the freezing icy waters.

His 21-year-old girlfriend attempted to rescue him and disappeared in the hypothermia inducing waters and is presumed dead. His other friend, age 23, is currently fighting for his life at Presence Saint Joseph Hospital where he is in critical condition. As for Ken Hoang, he too died in the icy river waters. Divers from the Police and Fire Departments scheduled another search for the woman’s body at 9:00AM, Tuesday morning. It is not known if they have been able to locate her remains.

Despite being senseless provocation of this tragedy, it should be noted that Hoang’s friends put their lives on the line for him. It isn’t known yet what model cell phone he was trying to retrieve.

“The lesson learned here is real simple. If your pets go onto ice, if you drop a cell phone or wallet, do not try and retrieve it,” Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said.

Last year, a man was killed by an oncoming train in the Bronx after jumping onto the subway tracks to search for his dropped cell phone.
In another case, again in New York, a man was electrocuted after jumping onto the tracks.

On The Web:
Man Dead, Woman Missing After Falling In Icy River
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/01/13/man-dead-woman-missing-after-falling-in-icy-river/

Man dies after jumping into icy river to retrieve cell phone
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57617159-71/man-dies-after-jumping-into-icy-river-to-retrieve-cell-phone/