NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard located an overdue duck hunter in the vicinity of Grand Lake, Tuesday.
Watchstanders at the 8th Coast Guard District command center received initial notification from the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office that Daniel Madere was reported missing. Madere did not report to work at 10 a.m. as expected.
The sheriffs found Madere’s truck at the Serigne boat launch. Madere was reportedly last seen by his friend in the middle of Grand Lake on his 16-foot flat-bottom boat before they parted.
A Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew located Madere on the bank of Grand Lake and vectored his location to the sheriffs and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ search-and-rescue personnel.
“The successful and safe return of the overdue hunter is due to the close coordination with the St. Bernard Parish Marine Unit combined with the mariner’s responsible use of a life jacket,” said Lt. j.g. Sharon D. Mezulis, command duty officer for Coast Guard Sector New Orleans.
Emergency medical services treated Medera and reported no injuries or medical concerns.
The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to file a float with a friend, family or harbormaster. A float plan is a life-saving device on paper that provides first responders vital information for locating people in distress. For a float plan template, click here.
The Coast Guard reminds all mariners to always wear their life jacket, since an incident can happen at any time.
