Danny G. Maddux, 64, of Barnhart drowned in the Meramec River on Monday afternoon (Sept. 7), while he was trying to get help for his wife, who was hurt while the two were canoeing, authorities report.
At about noon, Maddux and his wife were floating along the river in a canoe, which ran onto a gravel bar about 100 yards downstream of the Meramec State Park boat ramp in Franklin County, and when the woman got out, she fell, “causing a severe leg injury,” the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.
So, Maddux began walking downstream to get help and when he attempted to cross the river, he went under and didn’t resurface, the report said.
Emergency responders were called to the scene, and after Maddux’s body was found, he was pronounced dead at 2:40 p.m., according to the report.
The woman was transported to an area hospital, said Sgt. Al Nothum of the Highway Patrol.