St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advises that during the months of June and July, the Marine Section of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office responded to the following incidents:

 

Search/Rescue Mission: June 23, 2021, 11:45 am, Halters Island

     On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at approximately 1145 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising of a stranded vessel. Dispatch further advised that Terrebonne Sheriff's Office called stating that a boater was stranded near Mosquito Bay, but coordinates to his location showed him in the Atchafalaya River near Sweet Bay Lake.

     Giving the conflicting locations, the deputy made contact with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in efforts to obtain a more accurate location. The USCG provided coordinates that showed a location North of Chacahoula. Contact was made with a deputy with the Terrebonne S.O. Marine Section. The deputies coordinated efforts to responded to these locations. It should be noted that, at that time, the deputies did not have communications with the boater.

     Three deputies responded in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel. After checking the location near Sweet Bay Lake, they proceeded down river towards Halters Island while the Terrebonne S.O. deputy responded to Mosquito Bay. The deputies located the boater in the Atchafalaya Bay near Halters Island. The boater stated he first experienced trouble at Mosquito Bay and then used his trolling motor to try to make his way back.

     The deputies instructed the boater to secure a towline to his vessel and board the patrol vessel donning a life vest. He was then transported to the Berwick Boat Launch without incident.

 

 

Regular Patrol/Assistance: July 8, 2021, 2:00 pm, Gulf of Mexico, 23 miles south of Vermillion Bay

     On Thursday, July 08, 2021, at approximately 1400 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a SAR text from the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The text stated that a fishing vessel located 23 nautical miles south of Vermillion Bay had an injured crew member aboard and was in need of assistance.

     The deputy contacted the USCG Sector New Orleans and was informed of the vessel's location and that it was underway moving North East at 11 knots. The USCB advised that they were sending a helicopter out and would advise of the situation. Minutes later, Sector New Orleans called back stating their helicopter was more than an hour out due to weather and asked if the SMPSO could respond. The deputy advised that the SMPSO would respond and would notify the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office (IPSO) as well as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).

     Two deputies and a first responder from Franklin Fire Dept. responded from Burns Point in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel. After getting underway, the deputy contacted Sector New Orleans for current updates of the vessel's position as they were tracking the vessel. It was determined the vessel was heading west to Fresh Water City.

     The deputy attempted to make contact with Vermillion Parish while en route to intercept the vessel south of South West Pass. However, it was learned that the vessel had already made its way to the jetties at Fresh Water City and was intercepted by IPSO's vessel. They were able to transport the victim to a dock in Fresh Water City and turn him over to Acadian Ambulance Service for transport and medical treatment. There is nothing further to report at this time.

 

Call out/Search/Rescue: July 12, 2021, 1:08 pm, Atchafalaya River near American Pass

     On the above date, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section was contacted by dispatch in reference to a subject that was disabled near a sand bar in the Atchafalaya River near American Pass.

     Upon speaking to the subject, it was learned that he was safe but was turned around due to the weather and his engine wouldn't start. He also stated that he left out of the Verdunville landing and was not sure how to get back. Once deputies were underway the subject was located a short time later at American Pass. The deputies were able to get his engine running and the boater followed them back into the landing without incident.

 

 

Call out/Assistance: July 17, 2021, 6:30 am, Atchafalaya River

     On Saturday, July 17, 2021, at approximately 0630 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch in reference to a stranded boater. Dispatch advised that the boater called stating he was aground in the Atchafalaya River and was in need of assistance. 

     The deputy made contact with the boater via cell phone and was provided with coordinates to the location. The boater stated that he and his friend were without injury, but needed assistance getting off the sandbar. The deputy advised him that the SMPSO would respond and if his situation changed before their arrival to call back.

     Two deputies responded in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel, and upon arrival at the given coordinates, observed a bass fishing type vessel that was hard aground. The deputies handed a towline to the boater who secured it to his vessel. They were then towed off the sandbar without incident. After standing by with them for a few minutes to make sure their outboard motor was operating correctly, the boaters departed under their own power and the deputies returned to base. There is nothing further to report at this time.

 

 

Call out/Assistance: July 21, 2021, 4:00 pm, Atchafalaya River near Shell Island

     On Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at approximately 1600 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch in reference to a possible disabled vessel. Dispatch advised that the United States Coast Guard (USCG) called stating there was a possible disabled vessel in the Atchafalaya River near Shell Island with 5 persons on board.

     The deputy contacted the USCG Sector New Orleans and learned that a boat captain called in and reported a small aluminum skiff possibly disabled near beacon 11 just North of Shell Island. The deputy made contact with said captain who confirmed the USCG's statement. Contact was made with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) in efforts to see if they had a vessel nearby, however they did not.

     Two deputies responded to the Berwick Boat Launch with SMB-4, a marked patrol vessel. As they were launching, they observed a small aluminum vessel towing another small aluminum vessel north bound in the River heading for the Berwick Boat Launch. Upon their arrival, it was learned the vessel in tow was in fact the disabled vessel they were searching to locate. All occupants were safely returned to the boat launch. Nothing further to report at this time.

 

Regular Patrol/Assistance: July 27, 2021, 8:30 am, Fourleague Bay

     On Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at approximately 0830 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a SAR Text from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in reference to a downed aircraft. The text stated that a small airplane went down in Fourleague Bay with one occupant. The occupant was alive and they also relayed coordinates to the aircraft's location.

     The deputy contacted dispatch and advised of the situation and was joined by another deputy in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel. While en route, the deputies contacted Terrebonne S.O. and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) to advise them of the situation.

     Upon arrival, the deputies observed a small aircraft inverted in Fourleague just East of Halters Island. The occupant was seated on the aircraft and appeared to have a laceration above his left eye and another on his nose. A rescue diver from the USCG helicopter was assisting the pilot upon our arrival. Moments later, the rescue diver informed me that the pilot was refusing to be transported by vessel due to the fact he gets seasick. Meanwhile, the LDWF and Terrebonne arrived on scene, and the occupant was then airlifted by the USCG, transported to the Patterson Airport, and turned over to Acadian Ambulance Service.

 

Regular Patrol/Assistance: July 27, 2021, 12:30 pm, Atchafalaya River near Stout's Pass

     On Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at approximately 1230 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch in reference to a stranded vessel near Stouts Pass. Dispatch further advised that the boater and a passenger were aground on a party barge just north of Stouts Pass in the Atchafalaya River. 

     Two deputies responded in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel, as they were on patrol and were near the location. Upon arrival, they observed a pontoon type vessel aground at the 113 M/B of the Atchafalaya River. The deputies handed the towline to the boater and instructed him and his passenger to get as low as possible in the rear of their vessel. They were then towed off the sand bar without incident. After checking that their engine was operating correctly, they left under their own power.

 

Call out/Assistance: July 29, 2021, 6:20 pm, Lake Fausse

     On Thursday, July 29, 2021, at approximately 1820 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from a deputy with the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office (IPSO) in reference to a swamped vessel in Lake Fausse Point with four persons in the water.

     The deputy responded immediately to Grand Avoille Boat Launch with SMB-2, a marked patrol vessel. While en route, the deputy contacted dispatch and advised of the situation. Upon arrival at the boat launch, the deputy observed a black Toyota pickup truck pull into the launch. One male and one female exited the bed of the truck. The subjects were two of the subjects from the swamped vessel. The deputy learned that the other two subjects were picked up by the IPSO Sheriff.

     Moments later, a deputy with the IPSO arrived at the boat launch and confirmed the information given by Tyler. There is nothing further to report at this time.

 

Public Information Officer
St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office
985-384-1622
pio@stmaryso.com
http://www.stmaryso.com/