The body of a 39-year-old Donaldsonville man who drowned in Lake Palourde was found this morning, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported.
Michael St. Amant’s body was located about 10 a.m.
The man went missing after he and another passenger, Theresa Hidalgo, 18, of Gramercy, fell overboard St. Amant’s 16-foot bass boat around 2:30 p.m. yesterday, according to St. Amant’s wife, Andrea, who was the third person on the boat.
Hidalgo has yet to be found.
Andrea said she did not know how to operate the boat and did not have cell-phone service to call for help. After drifting for a few minutes, Andrea said she was able to flag down some nearby jet skis who then were able to get to an area with cell-phone service to call 911.
LDWF Enforcement Division agents received the 911 call and arrived on the scene within minutes, and began searching for missing boaters until nightfall.
Other agencies participating in the search are St. Mary’s and St. Martin’s Parish Sheriff’s Offices, the Patterson Police Department, Stephensville Fire Department and Morgan City Fire Department.