Ottawa man rescued from Starved Rock State Park’s Hennepin Canyon, ‘alcohol believed to be a factor,’ police say

An Ottawa man who had fallen an unknown distance Sunday was rescued from the bottom of Hennepin Canyon in Starved Rock State Park utilizing a high-angle rope rescue system.

Angel Sellers, 22, was rescued, then treated and taken by Ottawa River Rescue boat to Lone Point Shelter, said Utica Fire Chief Ben Brown. Sellers was then transferred to Superior Air Ambulance where he was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Brown said. Sellers was in serious condition at the time.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the incident and a preliminary investigation indicates Sellers was intoxicated, said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police Sgt. Phil Wire. Sellers was reported missing to the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office. A ping to his cellphone located him at Starved Rock and he was found at a location on the Hennepin Canyon that has no access and steep walls, requiring the rope rescue, along with a boat for transport, Wire said.

Falling from the ledges of the Hennepin Canyon would not be survivable, Wire said. Authorities speculate Sellers walked to the canyon from another location in the park.

“We do not believe he fell from the canyon,” Wire said.

Sellers is facing citations for entering a restricted area after dark, Wire said. Sellers also was believed to be with two other people when he entered the park, Wire said.

Utica Fire/EMS were notified of the missing man at 7:41 a.m. and assisted at the scene by Illinois Conservation Police and the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office. Wallace, Oglesby and Naplate fire departments, Ottawa River Rescue and MABAS Division 25 Technical Rescue Team also were requested. The MABAS Division 25 chaplain was on scene and assisted the patient’s family during the rescue operation.

La Salle Fire Department had an ambulance stand by the Utica station during the incident. All units were back in service at 10:47 a.m.