Two missing boaters survive long night in Atchafalaya Basin

Stump sinks boat near Bayou Long Wednesday morning, LDWF says

After enduring a long night in the Atchafalaya Basin, two Franklin men and their dog were rescued by a Good Samaritan who spotted one of the men on the roof of a camp, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Rescue efforts for the men — who were reported missing around 10 p.m. Wednesday — were suspended until this morning due to the effects of Tropical Storm Cindy, the release states.

Around 11 a.m. this morning, a Good Samaritan spotted a man on the roof of a camp, who ultimately led the rescuer to the other man and the dog, who were on top of the sunken boat near Bayou Long in lower St. Martin Parish.

The men, who required no medical attention, said they were checking on crawfish traps when their boat sunk after hitting a submerged stump around 9 a.m. Wednesday. One of the men was able to walk to a nearby camp and waited out the storm on the roof, while the other man and his dog stayed with the sunken vessel Wednesday evening.