Illinois man dies after leap off Bass Rock

Daily American Republic

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A day of fun on Current River with friends turned deadly Saturday afternoon for an Illinois man who drowned after diving off a rock cliff.

The body of Christopher Jones, 23, of Marion, Ill., was recovered about 2:30 p.m. by Missouri Water Patrolman Jeff Johnson. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene by Carter County Coroner Dennis McSpadden.

"He landed face first which knocked him out and he never did come up," McSpadden said.

According to Johnson, Jones had been with a large group of friends when they stopped at Bass Rock, which is about two miles up the river from Van Buren.

"They were tubing and got out of the water and climbed up on the rocks," explained Johnson, who described Bass Rock as being a "pretty big hangout. We get a lot of people stopping there and hanging out."

The accident happened at about 1:45 p.m. when Jones was "trying to do a flip," Johnson said.

The height from the top of the rock to the water's surface is between 50 and 65 feet, Johnson said.

Jones' body was recovered at 2:33 p.m. in about 15 to 20 foot water.

According to Johnson, they have had "a lot of people jump off that rock. Several have been injured in the past from minor to serious injuries."

There are two contributing factors involved in the accidents at that location, Johnson said. "There are large obstructions under the water, large rocks," he said. "Also, the height is a factor in it as well."