Crews from the Saline Valley and Fenton fire protection districts worked together Feb. 21 to rescue a man who took a solo boat journey and got stranded on the Meramec River due to the iced-over waterway.
Saline Valley Fire got a call at 3:45 p.m. about a water rescue needed near Winter Park in the Jefferson County portion of Fenton, Fire Marshal Ryan Lesh said.
Lesh said the man who needed help was in his 40s and lives in Cuba, Missouri.
“He said he was on a boat expedition,” Lesh said. “He put in the river at St. James and had been on the river for two weeks, camping along the way.”
The man said his boat ran into a large piece of ice, knocking him into the river. He got back into his boat, a small johnboat he had been paddling, but ice on the water blocked him from proceeding any further, so he called for assistance. He told emergency responders he was able to change into dry clothing on the boat, Lesh reported.
“We contacted Fenton (Fire), and we put in one of our boats and they put in one of theirs,” Lesh said. “Due to the amount of ice in the river, the only suitable boat ramp available was Minnie Ha Ha Park in (Sunset Hills). We brought him and his boat to the shore (at Minnie Ha Ha Park).”
Lesh said the man did not have any apparent injuries.
“He ended his journey,” Lesh said. “He was picked up by his brother, and they returned home.”
Lesh said firefighters left the scene at about 5:45 p.m.
Rock Township Ambulance also responded to the call, he said.