INDIANAPOLIS - Two men are safe after being stranded on a small island in the White River near downtown Indianapolis early Monday morning.
According to the Indianapolis Fire Department, crews responded to a call for water rescue at 207 South White River Parkway West Drive just before 1:30 a.m. Monday.
Upon arrival, firefighters were initially unable to locate anyone until they heard yelling south of the reported location. There, crews found two men, ages 21 and 43, who were stranded on a small island on the west side of the White River.
The men told firefighters they were cold but otherwise uninjured.
At 2:05 a.m., IFD deployed a boat for the stranded men. However, the advance was slow because of reportedly icy conditions in the water.
The boat was eventually able to get the two men on shore at 2:45 a.m. They were checked out by Beech Grove medics.
The men told firefighters they were trying to do a good deed by recovering stolen bikes that were left on the island. They made it there via a small black raft that then floated away once they'd reached their destination.
The men were stuck on the island for an hour and a half before a bystander heard their yells for help and called 911.
After the men warmed up in the ambulance, they declined to go to the hospital.