Nine people rescued after sergeant spots boat capsizing in Louisiana, officials say
A 7-year-old girl who was found unresponsive under a capsized boat was rescued along with eight other boaters in Louisiana on May 7, according to officials.
Nine people were rescued after their boat capsized in Jefferson Parish, about 30 miles south of New Orleans, according to a news release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Sgt. Stephen Rhodes was on patrol on Grand Isle Beach on May 7 when he spotted a boat trying to exit the rock jetties and starting to take on water before capsizing at about 6:40 p.m., according to the release.
Officials said “good Samaritans” in an ATV picked up Rhodes and took him to his truck so he could get his own boat and assist the boaters.
When the sergeant reached the capsized boat, the eight people on the hull of the boat told Rhodes a 7-year-old girl was missing in the water, according to the release.
Officials said Rhodes jumped in the water and found the 7-year-old under the boat unresponsive. After starting CPR on the child, he was able to revive her.
The girl was airlifted to a children’s hospital in New Orleans where authorities said she “is expected to make a full recovery.”
Col. Chad Hebert, head of the LDWF Enforcement Division, thanked the civilians who assisted the sergeant in the rescue.
“Sgt. Rhodes was on patrol by himself and these good Samaritans helped him perform this rescue faster,” Hebert said. “That time saved probably made it possible to resuscitate the young girl.”
This story was originally published May 9, 2022 at 12:38 PM with the headline "Nine people rescued after sergeant spots boat capsizing in Louisiana, officials say."
