Missouri River boaters on Sunday rescued a Jefferson City man and woman on another boat that had been sucked under a barge.
Jim Robson, an acting captain with the Jefferson City Fire Department, said the pair - Darren Dickneiter, 32, and Christa Baker, 24 - were trying to retrieve a fishing jug from the barge when the current swept the boat under the barge just after 3 p.m. Jug fishing uses lines suspended from floating jugs to catch fish.
The barge was parked at Muenks Bros. Sand Plant north of the Missouri River bridge.
The couple was able to call 911 on their cell phones, and the Jefferson City Fire Department, Missouri Highway Patrol and Jefferson City Police Department all responded.
But by the time they arrived minutes later, another boat had rescued the victims, whom Robson declined to name. He said the female was submerged under the barge and came out on the other side. The man was able to swim away without being pulled under, he said.
The woman was shaken up, Robson said, but both declined medical treatment at the scene.
Robson said the rescue could have easily turned out differently.
"The river has a lot of different currents and will take you under a barge (quickly), so that's why we warn people not to go near them," Robson said. "It's not worth losing a life over a jug."