On July 28th 2023, at approximately 1:53 P.M., LDWF Agents received a call from St. Mary Sheriff's Department Informing agents of a boat incident in The Bayou Teche in Jeanerette, which is locate in St. Mary parish. Agents responded to the call. While in route agents were notified by St. Mary's sheriffs office that they recovered a deceased subject from the Bayou Teche. 

Upon arrival agents learned that it was a single unregistered non-motorized vessel incident in which the single occupant was found floating, face down near his vessel (approximately 12' flat boat). Agents learned the subject's son and a St. Mary sheriff deputy recovered the body. Deputy informed agents that CPR was administered but was unsuccessful. 

Deputy stated rigor-mortis had not set in and that during CPR air was expelled from the victim’s lungs. Upon speaking with Victim's son, Agents learned that victim suffered from multiple health issues, including a heart condition, diabetes and more recently vertigo. 

Alcohol or drugs are not suspected to be contributing factors. Family members told agents that PFDs were present in the vessel at one point in time. However, no PFDs were observed in the vessel or in the surrounding water. 

The vessel is an unregistered non-motorized approximate 12' flat boat. In my experience, persons who drown usually sink, having little to no buoyancy or air in the lungs. Therefore in my opinion Victim possibly suffered a medical emergency due to his health conditions and later ended up in the water. Victim's health conditions are contributing factors which also possibly led to falling overboard. Family members refused to have an autopsy performed. Agents are currently waiting on Corner's report / cause of death.

Bayou Teche
Jeanerette                    