Metro West Fire Protection District crews searched the Meramec River near Castlewood State Park on Wednesday evening, July 15, after reports that a swimmer may have drowned in the popular but dangerous waterway.

Firefighters entered the river to look for the swimmer, according to the district. The swimmer's age, identity, and condition had not been released as of Thursday, July 16, and the outcome of the search remains unknown.

Castlewood State Park is located at 1401 Kiefer Creek Road in Ballwin. Swimming and wading in the Meramec are strictly prohibited within the park due to safety concerns, but the river continues to draw people during summer months.

Metro West Fire Chief Mike Krause has warned that sudden underwater dropoffs combined with swift currents are what cause drownings at Castlewood. As of 2022, at least 16 people had died along the river within the park, including 12 by drowning.

Metro West operates a subsurface water rescue team stationed at Castlewood, the only one of its kind in St. Louis County.

This is a developing story. The Chesterfield Valley Post will update this article as more information becomes available.