Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents rescued a family of five from the Pearl River this afternoon, Aug. 4, in Washington Parish.
LDWF agents were alerted around 1:30 p.m. about a husband and wife with their three kids stranded in an anchored boat about six feet in front of a low head dam near Bogalusa.
According to the father the family was out fishing and was starting to head back to the boat launch when the motor lost power. The low head dam’s current was forcing the 15 foot aluminum vessel down river towards the dam where they would have more than likely went over the dam capsizing the boat.
The father attempted to paddle but wasn’t able to reverse the direction of the vessel. He then was able to put a boat anchor in the water that stopped their movement. Once stopped the father was able to call for help.
Agents arrived on scene around 2:00 p.m. and was able to retrieve the family of five that included a six year old, four year old and 23 month old. Once they had the family safely on shore, the agents went back and retrieved the vessel.
“We’ve had some fatalities with these low head dams and this situation could have turned out very differently and ended with a very sad story,” said Col. Joey Broussard. “This father’s quick thinking of putting the anchor in the water to stop them from going over the dam may have saved their lives.”
LDWF Senior Agents Lee Davis and Joel Cromp performed the successful rescue mission.