Firefighters rescued a 33-year-old Arnold man after he jumped off a cliff into the Big River at Rockford Beach, 4320 Hwy. W, in House Springs, on June 10, said John Barton, chief of the High Ridge Fire Protection District.
He said High Ridge firefighters were called to the river at 5:03 p.m., arrived on the scene at 5:10 p.m. and the man was out of the water and in a boat at 5:27 p.m.
The man was not injured, Barton said.
He said the man claimed to be a strong swimmer but was overpowered by the current and became trapped in the rapids.
Both the High Ridge and Eureka fire protection districts launched boats in the river to rescue the man, Barton said.
He said it was the first rescue this year at Rockford Beach. Unfortunately, he expects there will be more.
"We are worried about Rockford Beach each year,” he said.
Barton said the area has signs warning people not to swim there.
“It does not matter how good of a swimmer you are. The river is constantly changing,” he said.
Barton said, he, too, advises people against swimming at Rockford Beach.
"It's a great fishing area. If you want to launch a boat from the boat ramp, it's great for that,” he said.
Barton said Cedar Hill Fire Protection District and Big River Ambulance District also helped with the call.