NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard rescued a man, Monday, near Lacombe, La., after he was reported overdue.
Rescued was Joshua Mayeaux, 29, of Ponchatoula, La.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received notification from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Department at approximately 10 p.m., Sunday, stating that Mayeaux’s father had reported him overdue.
A 25-foot Response Boat-Small (RB-S) crew from Coast Guard Station New Orleans joined a marine unit from the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Department who was already searching the area for Mayeaux.
Mayeaux was located in Bayou Lacombe, off Lake Ponchartrain, at about 6 a.m., in a 16-foot pleasure craft that had become stuck in the mud.
Due to the shallow water preventing the rescue boats from reaching Mayeaux, a rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans hoisted him from his grounded vessel.
“He looked relieved to see us; he had spent several hours in the mud trying to free his boat,” said Lt. j.g. Rebecca Fosha, Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, public affairs officer. “Since he was in good shape, we just lowered the basket, and he stepped in on his own.”
Mayeuax was transported to Hammond Regional Airport, where his family was waiting to meet him.
The Coast Guard urges all mariners to keep a functioning marine-band radio on board vessels. Marine-band radios are more reliable than cell phones, and they are the most efficient way to communicate with rescue personnel in the event of an emergency.
