Clarkton man nearly drown in Current River Sunday

DONIPHAN — A day on Current River could have ended tragically for a Clarkton man had it not been for a jet ski operator who came to his rescue.

Gilberto Leonardo, 28, reportedly was treated at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for moderate injuries after he nearly drowned while attempting to swim across the river at about 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

Leonardo “actually took off (swimming) from the Float Camp day use area,” a U.S. Forest Service river access, said Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Shayne Talburt.

Leonardo, he said, was with a group of people at the access.

The river at that location, according to Talburt, is about 200 feet wide, and the water level is about seven to eight feet deep.

“It’s Current River; it’s strong current,” Talburt said.

Leonardo “went off by himself out in the water; that’s when he started going down(stream) with the current,” Talburt said.

Leonardo, he said, then “started bobbing” and submerged.

“He actually was recovered by a jet-ski operator that saw him partially submerged under the water,” Talburt explained. “The jet-ski operator grabbed hold of him and got him to a gravel bar.”

At that time, Talburt said, another swimmer began to perform life-saving measures on Leonardo.

“Trooper (Caleb) Morgan and myself transported (Leonardo) by boat to the Deer Leap boat ramp, where he was transported” to the hospital by ambulance, Talburt said.

Leonardo was not wearing a personal-floation device, Talburt said.

“(Leonard) was very fortunate to have the jet-ski operator traveling by whenever he went under the water,” as well as “the lady who rendered medical assistance until myself, Trooper Morgan and Trooper (Kyle) Huggins could arrive on the scene,” Talburt said.

The jet-ski operator, who isn’t being identified, did a “good job of recognizing there was a person in danger” and coming to the rescue, Talburt said. “We would have more deaths and serious injuries on Current River if not for the amount of people ready to offer assistance.”