LDW&F agent rescues boater from Vermilion Bay

A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agent successfully completed a search and rescue mission Thursday in Vermilion Parish.

Cpl. Derek Logan, who was on shrimp patrol in Vermilion Bay, received a call about a sunken vessel nearby around 10:50 a.m. He immediately began searching the area and around 11:15 a.m. found a 56-year-old man without a personal flotation device clinging to a cooler and fuel tank from his 16-foot vessel, according to a LDW&F press release.

Logan was able to retrieve the man from the water and bring him to shore to be checked out by local emergency medical services, and he was released without injury.

“This was a very fortunate outcome that could have turned out a lot worse,” said Col. 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.”

According to the rescued man, his vessel began taking on water when the wind and waves picked up, which suddenly sunk his boat.