High Ridge Man Drowns in Meramec River

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A High Ridge, Missouri man drowned Saturday afternoon while trying to save his wife from drowning on the Meramec River.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 48-year-old Bryan Wilson and his wife, 50-year-old Angela Wilson, were floating on the Meramec River, near Eureka, at 1 p.m., when they decided to exit their floatation device and climb onto a rock. The patrol says Angela entered the water by unknown means and began to struggle.  Bryan then entered the water to save her, but he began to struggle and was unable to make it to shore.

Two floaters in the area noticed the pair and began efforts to rescue them. The floaters were able to get both to the shore and started CPR on Bryan, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Angela was transported to a SSM Health St. Claire Hospital in Fenton, with moderate injuries.

The patrol reports that neither Bryan nor Angela were wearing life jackets.