High Ridge Fire Protection crews recovered the body of Gaudalupe Lopez, 33, of Madison, Ill., a couple of hours after he was last seen swimming in the Big River near Rockford Park in House Springs on Tuesday, July 23, Fire Chief John Barton said.
He said his crews got a water rescue call at 1:11 p.m.
“He was seen swimming across the river, going underwater, and he didn’t resurface,” Barton said. “There was a group he was with – I don’t know if they were family or friends. A language barrier is an issue (with communicating with the bystanders).”
He said the body was recovered at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The adult male was found deceased in 8 feet of water near “an area of intense current,” according to a written statement from High Ridge Fire on Tuesday evening,
Barton said about two dozen emergency first responders, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Division, searched upriver and downriver for the drowning victim
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Big River Ambulance District and the Cedar Hill Fire, Eureka Fire, Fenton Fire and Metro West Fire protection districts also provided aid during the search, the report said.
High Ridge Fire had two boats in the water searching and used sonar and drone equipment.
Barton said so far this year, High Ridge Fire has responded to eight water-related rescue calls at the Big River access point at Rockford Park. Last year, there were two drownings on the river and a rescue.
This is the first drowning at the access point this year, he said.
The Big River has strong currents near the Rockford Park access point, Barton said.
Signs at the park warn that swimming and wading in the river there is hazardous. However, swimming and wading are not prohibited.
The Jefferson County Council voted on legislation in March to change the name of the park from Rockford Beach Park to Rockford Park. The legislation also banned the use of alcohol and recreational marijuana there.
Before that, Councilman Brian Haskins (District 1, High Ridge) had proposed an ordinance that also would have prohibited swimming at the park, but Councilman Bob Tullock (District 7, House Springs) amended the bill to keep swimming at the park. At a later meeting when the council voted on the amended ordinance that did not prohibit swimming but did prohibit alcohol and marijuana, Tullock, Lori Arons (District 3, Imperial), Charles Groeteke (District 4, Barnhart) and Gene Barbagallo (District 2, Imperial) voted for it. Scott Seek (District 5, Festus) voted against the ordinance, and Haskins and Dan Stallman (District 6, De Soto) were absent.
In its written statement, High Ridge Fire warned people against swimming in the Big River near Rockford Park.
“Rivers are unforgiving, and we ask the community to enjoy Rockford Park for what it is intended – boating, fishing and picnics,” the report said. “If you enter the water, you are gambling with your life.”
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First updated story:
High Ridge Fire Protection crews have recovered the body of a 34-year-old adult male last seen swimming on the Big River near Rockford Park in House Springs on Tuesday, July 23, Fire Chief John Barton said.
He said his crews got a water rescue call at 1:11 p.m.
“He was seen swimming across the river, going underwater, and he didn’t resurface,” Barton said. “There was a group he was with – I don’t know if they were family or friends. A language barrier is an issue (with communicating with the bystanders).”
He said the body was recovered at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The adult male was found deceased in 8 feet of water near “an area of intense current,” according to a written statement from High Ridge Fire on Tuesday evening,
Barton said about two dozen emergency first responders, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Division, searched upriver and downriver for the drowning victim
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Big River Ambulance District and the Cedar Hill Fire, Eureka Fire, Fenton Fire and Metro West Fire protection districts also provided aid during the search, the report said.
High Ridge Fire had two boats in the water searching and used sonar and drone equipment.
Barton said so far this year, High Ridge Fire has responded to eight water-related rescue calls at the Big River access point at Rockford Park. Last year, there were two drownings on the river and a rescue.
This is the first drowning at the access point this year, he said.
The Big River has strong currents near the Rockford Park access point, Barton said.
Signs at the park warn that swimming and wading in the river there is hazardous. However, swimming and wading are not prohibited.
The Jefferson County Council voted on legislation in March to change the name of the park from Rockford Beach Park to Rockford Park. The legislation also banned the use of alcohol and recreational marijuana there.
Before that, Councilman Brian Haskins (District 1, High Ridge) had proposed an ordinance that also would have prohibited swimming at the park, but Councilman Bob Tullock (District 7, House Springs) amended the bill to keep swimming at the park. At a later meeting when the council voted on the amended ordinance that did not prohibit swimming but did prohibit alcohol and marijuana, Tullock, Lori Arons (District 3, Imperial), Charles Groeteke (District 4, Barnhart) and Gene Barbagallo (District 2, Imperial) voted for it. Scott Seek (District 5, Festus) voted against the ordinance, and Haskins and Dan Stallman (District 6, De Soto) were absent.
In its written statement, High Ridge Fire warned people against swimming in the Big River near Rockford Park.
“Rivers are unforgiving, and we ask the community to enjoy Rockford Park for what it is intended – boating, fishing and picnics,” the report said. “If you enter the water, you are gambling with your life.”
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Original story:
High Ridge Fire Protection crews have recovered the body of an adult male last seen swimming on the Big River near Rockford Park in House Springs today.
Fire Chief John Barton said his crews were dispatched at approximately 1 p.m.
“He was seen swimming across the river, going underwater, and he didn’t resurface,” Barton said. “There was a group he was with – I don’t know if they were family or friends. A language barrier is an issue (with communicating with the bystanders).”
He said the body was recovered at about 3:30 p.m.
Barton said about two dozen emergency first responders were at the park searching up and downriver for the drowning victim, including Metro West Fire Protection District and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Division.
High Ridge Fire had two boats in the water searching and used sonar and drone equipment.
Barton said so far this year, High Ridge Fire has responded to about six water rescue calls at the Big River access point at Rockford Park. Last year, he said there were two drownings on the river and a rescue.
This is the first drowning at the access point this year.
The Big River has strong currents near the Rockford Park access point, Barton said. Signs at the park warn that sections of the river are hazardous to swimming and wading. The signs do not ban swimming or wading, though.
The Jefferson County Council voted in March to change the name of the park from Rockford Beach Park to Rockford Park. The vote also approved legislation to ban the use of alcohol and recreational marijuana there.
Councilman Brian Haskins (District 1, High Ridge) had proposed an ordinance that also would have prohibited swimming at the park, however, Councilman Bob Tullock (District 7, House Springs) amended the bill to keep swimming at the park.