It was supposed to be a leisurely day enjoying the Missouri River at Jefferson City.
Bob Hamby left his home in Rolla with all the gear one needs for a day on the boat.
Before 11 a.m. Saturday, his fishing gear and other sundries were floating haphazardly with the current away from the Noren Access ramp and his truck was sinking into the muddy waters.
"I got out of the boat to get to the truck for the breaks, but it was moving too fast," Hamby said.
Although the truck was in gear and a log placed behind the back tire, somehow it rolled backward forcing the boat and trailer into the river, too.
Hamby said he was grateful he had at least been able to untie the boat before full immersion.
He was more grateful for a passer-by Justin Lee, who saw his predicament and called 911.
When Lee arrived at the access, he saw Hamby's cooler, air mattress, lantern, tackle box and more floating away and the bow of Hamby's boat submerged.
"He was trying to get the motor started to get the line off," said Lee, a Branson contractor temporarily in town. "I didn't know how to help from the shore."
Both the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Jefferson City Police Department responded to the call, which originally was an occupied vehicle in the water. The event was downgraded to a motor vehicle accident when they arrived to find Hamby out of the water, said Sgt. Chad Stieferman.
After making the call and Hambly cutting his boat loose, Lee helped gather what supplies were still visible.
"I was just coming to do some fishing," Hamby said.
Before backing to the boat launch, he had called his girlfriend in Rolla with the cell phone that only a few minutes later would be sinking into the muddy bank.
"There was nothing I could do but stand and watch," Hamby said. "The grandkids are not going to believe what happened to Papa today."