Posted on 03/29/2015 6:12:01 PM PDT by BBell
A boating accident in St. Tammany Parish Saturday (March 28) left one man dead and a Folsom mother missing after her three children were rescued thanks, in part, to a 16-year-old boy fishing nearby, authorities said.
A 14-foot flat boat capsized on the Pearl River Canal, which winds from Bogalusa to the Pearl River in Slidell, about 5:30 p.m. near Sun, according to information provided by St. Tammany Fire District 9 in Bush, the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the St. Tammany Sheriff's Office.
Terry O'Keefe Jr., 41, who was operating the boat, was found dead about 8 a.m. Sunday, according to Wildlife and Fisheries. Jonie Morgan, 31, remained missing as of early Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
Wildlife and Fisheries agents said they believe the aluminum boat flipped going over a lock after O'Keefe was unable to start the engine.
St. Tammany District 9 Fire Chief Scott Brewer said authorities believe O'Keefe was Morgan's boyfriend.
Brewer said a 16-year-old boy fishing in a boat saw the capsizing and tried to rescue the passengers. But in the process, his boat also swamped with water and flipped, Brewer said.
The 16-year-old, wearing a floatation device, bear-hugged two of the children in the water, boys aged 6 and 8. He also held onto Morgan by her shirt as she grasped her four-year-old daughter. O'Keefe wasn't visible at that time, Brewer said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Wear your life jacket. At least the adults were sensible enough to put them on the kids.
Other boaters help as well
That's a recipe for disaster.
3 were little kids. A recipe for disaster.
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