Operator1 and father were anchored out along the Mermentau River engaged in fishing.  The boat, vessel #1 (LA 1958 FA) was tied off from both bow and stern  to two separate pipes which were buried in the river bottom.
     Vessel #1 was approached by a commercial crabbing vessel (LA 0312 SK) which was throwing a large wake.  The wake of vessel #2 jerked vessel #1 against its mooring lines, causing both occupants of vessel #1 to be thrown from the vessel.  Both of the occupants of vessel #1 managed to climb back into their vessel and get underway back to the landing.  Vessel #2 did not see that they had caused the incident and proceeded north in the Mermentau River.  It was eventually found out by investigators that the operator of vessel #2 stated that he had never seen the vessel #1 because of a sporadic treeline along the river, blocking his view of vessel #1.  While underway the short distance (approximately one mile) back to the landing occupant, while speaking to operator1, suffered an attack and became incoherent and unresponsive.  Upon reaching the landing operator called 911 and the Cameron Sheriff Office sent medical assistance to Myers Landing to meet Vessel #1.  Ground and air medical ambulances were dispatched to the scene where victim was pronounced dead on the scene.  Alcohol was not suspected to be a factor.  Neither occupant was wearing a PFD.  This was not a factor as both subjects were able to re-board the vessel after the incident.  The Calcasieu Corner's Office performed an autopsy and the results stated that the manner of death was accidential; however, the conclusion stated that the fall into the lake was the precipitating event which led the heart attack and ultimately to his death.

Lake Arthur                   