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NATCHEZ — Multiple people were rescued from the Mississippi River following a boating accident on Saturday, July 6, which caused them to be thrown overboard.

At least four civilians were safely extracted from the river, including one of them with a head injury, said Everard Baker of Natchez Search and Rescue.

Wildlife and Fisheries officers and civilians were first to have boats in the water and rescue the individuals floating in the river approximately two miles south of the Vidalia landing, authorities stated in a news release.

“Search and rescue did not pick them up. From what I understand, they hit something in the river and I assume from about where they were it was a rock dike that comes into the river that you can’t see in the water,” Baker said.

Whatever was struck tore the motor off of the civilian boat and threw four of the six passengers into the water, Baker said.

One sustained a head injury and others had a few bruises but were otherwise OK.

The status of the injured is unknown at this time.

In the news release, Vidalia Police Department Chief Joey Merrill thanked his responding officers along with Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Wildlife and Fisheries, Natchez Search and Rescue, and Vidalia and Natchez Fire Departments for their efforts to rescue the civilians.