Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter file photo
NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard and Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office rescued two individuals in Lake Verret, Louisiana, Tuesday.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a report from Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office at 12:40 a.m. of an overdue 18-foot skiff with two men and a woman aboard.
Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew.
Watchstanders received an updated report at 1:45 a.m. that the sheriff’s office located one person and took him to Assumption Community Hospital for signs of possible hyperthermia.
The Dolphin helicopter aircrew arrived on scene at 2:21 a.m. and located the remaining man and woman in the water. The aircrew vectored in Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Water Patrol Units to the people where they were recovered and then transported to Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City, Louisiana, for signs of possible hypothermia.
The man and woman reportedly had been in the 60-degree water for almost four hours. They were reportedly wearing life jackets.
“An integral part of this rescue was the boaters’ float plan,” said Scott Talbot, the search and rescue mission coordinator for Sector New Orleans. “Because they notified someone ashore of their voyage, a timely report of their delayed return was made to officials. We recommend boaters file float plans with friends or family members before going out on the water to ensure timely reports of possible distress.”
