The Coast Guard and Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office rescued two people in Lake Verret today.
Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon said he got a call about 10 p.m. Monday from someone concerned about a group that was overdue from a fishing trip out of Bayou Corne.
The Sheriff’s Office dispatched the water patrol division at approximately 10 p.m. and searched the waterways leading to Lake Verret. Rescuers encountered difficult weather conditions as they approached Lake Verret, the sheriff said. The Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from Wildlife and Fisheries and Coast Guard air support.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a report from Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office at 12:40 a.m. of an overdue 18-foot skiff with two men and a woman aboard.
Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew.
Deputies pulled the first person from the water at approximately 1:30 a.m. on the northwest side of the lake. The man advised that as he got into the lake at approximately 3:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, he encountered rough water and his boat capsized, forcing all three persons into the water. At some point the individuals were separated by the rough water and weather conditions, the man told deputies.
The man was transported to Assumption Community Hospital for signs of possible hyperthermia.
The Dolphin helicopter aircrew arrived on scene at 2:21 a.m. and located the remaining man and woman in the water, and radioed deputies their location. The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Water Patrol Units picked them up in the area of the cove on the Pierre Part side of Lake Verret. Both were transported to Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City for signs of possible hypothermia.
The man and woman reportedly had been in the 60-degree water for almost four hours. The sheriff said all three were wearing Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices.
Sheriff Falcon expresses his appreciation to the Coast Guard and Wildlife and Fisheries.
“Due to the combined effort, this was a great outcome for the three people who were ultimately rescued”, Sheriff Falcon said.
“An integral part of this rescue was the boaters’ float plan,” said Scott Talbot, the search and rescue mission coordinator for Sector New Orleans. “Because they notified someone ashore of their voyage, a timely report of their delayed return was made to officials. We recommend boaters file float plans with friends or family members before going out on the water to ensure timely reports of possible distress.”
