A Warren County man was hospitalized Tuesday after breaking his neck while diving into the Mississippi River at a public boat ramp.

Gerald Dewayne Vanderford, 44, who lives on Dry Creek Road, was injured and suffered a broken neck shortly before 1 a.m. Monday at LeTourneau Landing, Sheriff Martin Pace said.

“He and several other individuals were at the public landing and they reported Vanderford dove off into the water,” Pace said.

One of the people with Vanderford called 911 to alert the sheriff’s office they were en route to Merit Health River Region Medical Center, Pace said.

“It appears to be an accidental injury,” Pace said.

Vanderford was later taken to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson where he was in serious condition Tuesday, hospital spokesman Gary Pettus said.

It was unclear if Vanderford hit the bottom of the flooded area at LeToureau landing or if his head struck an object, Pace said.

The low water boat ramp at LeTourneau Landing was covered with floodwater Tuesday, while the high water ramp was mostly submerged. Logs jammed both entrances to the boat ramps, which are lined with rocks.

Pace cautioned against swimming or sightseeing in dangerous floodwater.

“Although that is a public landing, swimming is never recommended in the main body of the river and certainly not at night when you can’t see what you’re diving into,” Pace said.

The Mississippi River was at 45.9 feet Wednesday morning on the Vicksburg gage. Flood stage is 43 feet. Floodwater is not expected to subside soon, as the National Weather Service is calling for the water level to remain above 45 feet until Sunday when water is expected to fall to 44.8 feet.

Weather service officials have said the summer flood is the highest since the Great Flood of 1928.