On 02/26/2011 at approximately 5:50pm, Senior Agents were on patrol in Ouachita Parish and received a call from Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office regarding a possible drowning in progress on Bayou Desiard.  We arrived on the scene at approximately 6:03pm around the 1000 block of Highway 136, Sterlington, La.  OPSO, Sterlington P.D., and AMR were already on the scene with the recovered body.  Paramedics on scene stated that victim had been deceased for approximately 35 minutes.  I made contact with the survivor of the incident, and identified myself as a LDWF Enforcement Agent.  Survivor was very upset and unable to answer any questions while at the scene.  I spoke with the victim’s father on the scene and he stated that just before the two brothers started their fishing trip, he advised them not to get in that small boat together.  Senior Agent and I retrieved the overturned vessel at approximately 6:25pm. We observed a small styrofoam ice chest floating next to the overturned vessel and no other items.  We did not observe any personal floatation devices around the scene of the incident.  Photographs of the scene and vessel involved were taken and will be included with the report.

On 02/27/2011 at approximately 1:30pm, Senior Agent and I made contact with the survivor of the incident. Both the victim and survivor reside with their parents at this address which is located on Bayou Desiard approximately ¼ mile from the scene of the incident.  According to his voluntary witness statement, Survivor was at the bow of the boat and his brother was at the stern.  He stated they had no PFD’s in the vessel and each had consumed five beers.  Three possible contributing factors:  passenger behavior, alcohol use, and overloading.  

The vessel measured less than 11 feet in length and likely had no more than a few inches of freeboard.  Survivor stated that he was hanging a yo-yo on a tree when his brother (victim) lost his balance and caused them to overturn.  He stated that Victim was having difficulty keeping his head above water.  He tried helping Victim by pushing the overturned vessel to him and telling him to hang on, but the small boat kept sinking and causing Victim to go under.  Survivor stated that he retrieved their small styrofoam ice chest from nearby and tried getting it under Victim.  Survivor then began swimming to shore go get help.   The distance was approximately 75 feet from the overturned vessel to the shoreline.  Survivor said when he made it to the shore, he turned to look at his brother and he was still floating but not moving. He then ran up the hill to Highway 136 and flagged down a passerby.  Good samaritan stated that Survivor flagged him down.  Good samaritan said he found a small community boat near the scene and was able to make it to Victim’s location by treading the water with his hands.  He stated that Victim was face down in the water and not moving.  He grabbed Victim and was able to get him to shallow water.  OPSO deputies arrived on the scene and retrieved the body out of water.  The Coroner’s office took possession of Victim body at approximately 6:30pm on 02/26/2011.  A preliminary to be autopsy showed victim likely died of drowning.

Sterlington                   