An Overland, Missouri, man tragically lost his life this past weekend while swimming with his sons in the Big River at Rockford Park in Jefferson County. Identified as a 44-year-old, the man was reportedly swept away by a current and went under. Despite the efforts of emergency responders, he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
John Barton, the High Ridge Fire Protection District Chief, told KSDK that the river has a history of similar tragic events. "People don't heed the warnings that are posted and they don't realize that there's names attached to those warnings that they're not random. They're based on loss of life over many years," Barton said. The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of swimming in the area, which has seen numerous drownings and water rescues in recent years.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol filed a drowning report that was shared by FOX 2 Now. The report highlighted that the last two fatalities at Big River were also trapped by a circular current within the same vicinity, illustrating the lurking dangers within this seemingly serene setting.
In an effort to quickly locate the individual, a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy, who was on the scene, jumped into the water and tried to form a chain with others to find the victim. "But then having a deputy down here that was bilingual that was able to interview the family, get us the exact information we needed, and as soon as we got here, he was able to relay that to us," Barton told KSDK. Rescue divers were eventually able to locate and retrieve the man from the river, but he was already in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries later on.
According to KTTN, the man began struggling in the water at around 5:22 p.m. on Saturday. Rescue personnel from the High Ridge Fire Department recovered the man and initiated life-saving measures. He was then rushed to SSM Health St. Clare Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:17 p.m. by Dr. Gottumukkala.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the local fire department have reiterated their calls for the public to adhere to the safety warnings and discouraged swimming at Rockford Park. "We encourage everyone to heed the obvious warning signs that discourage swimming," Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak stated, as reported by KSDK.
