Victim fell into water while trying to tie on to barge, LDWF says
A 66-year-old New Orleans man died Tuesday during a fishing trip in Daylight Bay after falling into the water while attempting to tie on to the backside of a barge to get out of the wind, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Ernest Owens died in the St. Bernard Parish accident, which occurred around 11 a.m., the release states.
Search crews found Owens’ fishing partner — a 64-year-old man from Mereaux — in an 18-foot boat holding on to the unresponsive victim, the release states.
According to the survivor, he attempted to throw flotation devices to Owens after he fell in, but the wind kept pushing the PFDs back toward the boat. He got the boat close enough to Owens to tie a line around his wrist to try to keep his head above water and then called for help with his cellphone, the release states.
Rescue crews rushed both men from the scene, but Owens was pronounced dead at Serigne’s Marina in Delacroix. The survivor was airlifted to Tulane Hospital in New Orleans after complaining of chest pains, according to the release.
Neither man was wearing a PFD when the accident occurred, the release states.
