VERMILION PARISH, La. — VERMILION PARISH, La. — On Thursday, May 16, a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) agent completed a search and rescue mission in Vermilion Parish.
According to LDWF, Corporal Derek Logan, who was on shrimping patrol in Vermilion Bay, received a call at 10:50 a.m. about a sunken vessel nearby. He immediately began a search of the area. By 11:15 a.m., he found a 56-year-old man, without a personal flotation device, clinging to a cooler and fuel tank from his 16-foot vessel.
Corporal Logan was able to retrieve the man from the water and bring him to shore for evaluation by Emergency Medical Services. He was released without injury, officials reported.
“This was a very fortunate outcome that could have turned out a lot worse,” said Colonel Rachel Zechenelly, head of the LDWF Enforcement Division. “Corporal Logan did a great job of getting this man out of the water and to higher ground in a very fast and efficient manner.”
The rescued man said his vessel began taking on water when the wind and waves picked up, suddenly sinking his boat.
Around the same time as the rescue mission, Corporal Logan received another call about a second vessel carrying three people that sank. A commercial shrimper rescued the three people.
During Safe Boating Week, LDWF wants to remind everyone to have a float plan before heading out on the water.
“Always have a float plan, let someone know where you are, what game you’re targeting if you’re just going boat riding. Have enough personal flotation devices for everyone on board and make sure the captain and everyone in the crew pays attention to the weather - darkening skies and shifting winds is a tell-tale sign bad weather is approaching,” Corporal Logan said.
A float plan should:
- Describe the vessel's registration number, length, make, horsepower, and engine type.
- State where you are going, the detailed route, your planned departure time, and your expected return time.
- Give the name, address, and telephone number of each person on board and an emergency contact
.
For more information on Louisiana boating laws and responsibilities, go to, https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Resources/Publications/Boating/la_handbook_entire.pdf.
