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LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - A charred hull is all that is left of a boat after it was struck by lightning, a day of fishing gone bad.

Winnfield Nagle was nearby at Fred’s Lounge when it happened, but he said, at first, it just looked like an old boat.

“I thought it was an old fishing boat near the channel. I did not realize anything was wrong. When I got here and began talking to a guy about all of the police lights I realized something was wrong. He said there had been a fishing boat that was struck by lightning,” said Winnfield Nagle.

Richard Bergeron and Joseph Landry, both of Lake Charles, were fishing when it happened. Richard Bergeron suffered minor injuries, but Joseph Landry was not so lucky. Officials said he was dead upon arrival.

“People really need to watch the weather when they are out this time of year. We have many lightning storms come up real quick, and they underestimate them. They can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time,” said Remy Broussard with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

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Be sure to check the link for video of the rescue.

The Coast Guard released video of 56-year-old Chris Haynes Junior being rescued after he was bitten by the shark. His family said he had more surgery Monday and is resting well tonight at UMC. Haynes was in the water fishing with his son and friends when he was attacked off the Louisiana Coast. The Jackson businessman was a passenger on a boat called the Predator, which was 65 miles Southeast of New Orleans near Brenton Island when it happened.

It was a terrifying scene for Chip Haynes, who watched his father being attacked by sharks. “There were two. One ran into him and left a bruise and then the other came and bit him.“ Once the shock of what was happening wore off, Haynes and the other fisherman rushed to his dad’s side. “I saw my dad jumping around splashing in the water, and then he like fell and me and some of the guys just tried to move the boat closer.“ They wrapped a towel around the shark bite, trying to stop the bleeding. He said his father has had two surgeries since Saturday and another one is scheduled for later this week. Doctors said he has five torn tendons. “It’s the four (tendons) that help him move his foot and the one that helps him move his big toe,“ said Haynes. He and his dad have fished near Brenton Island many times, but that will be their last. “We definitely shouldn’t have been there obviously,“ he said.

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Shocker! It was probably a Bull Shark.

We are learning more about the Mississippi man bitten by a shark over the weekend off the Louisiana, as he undergoes surgery today.
“It actually bit him on his ankle. So, he has severed just about all of his ligaments… it took off about half of his foot.” Coast Guard Lt. John Egan told WWL First News. He was on the crew that went to rescue 62-year old Chris Haynes who was bitten as he waded in the water, fishing at Breton Sound.

“Thankfully he’s doing okay. He’s going under surgery today to help fix up his foot and his leg. He said it looked like he was bitten by a bull shark,” Egan said. “Luckily he was with a lot of people that were able to quickly pull him back on board his boat… our crew got there pretty quick, in about ten minutes.”

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A Jackson businessman remains hospitalized after surviving a shark attack over the weekend near Breton Island off the Louisiana coast.

Chris Haynes Jr., 56, was bitten Saturday on the foot as he and others fished in Breton Sound, a bay near the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent to the Mississippi River, said U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Tom Atkeson.

Haynes is the owner of Chris Haynes Electric Supply Inc in Jackson.

“Around 10 a.m. Saturday, we picked up a radio transmission from a vessel named the ‘Predator’ who reported someone on board was bitten by a shark,” Atkeson said.

A Coast Guard boat stationed in Venice, La., and a rescue helicopter were dispatched to the boat.

A rescue crewman lowered to the boat brought Haynes up to the helicopter, which took him to New Orleans. An ambulance met the helicopter and took him to a hospital.

Atkeson said he does not know how the shark was able to attack the man. The shark did not damage the 30-foot recreational fishing boat Haynes was aboard.

The type of shark has not been identified, although lemon, bull and nurse sharks “are the most common sharks in the Gulf,” Atkeson said.

Sophia Owen, a neighbor of Haynes, said he was fishing with his son at the time. She said Haynes was transported to University of Mississippi Medical Center on Sunday.

“They said they’re going to be able to save the foot, but he has to have some extensive surgeries,” Owen said.

According to National Geographic, there are 50 to 70 confirmed shark attacks each year around the world and up to 15 of those attacks are fatal.

Atkeson said one important lesson in this attack, which may have saved the man’s life, was the marine radio device on board the boat.

“A lot of times, boaters will be in the Gulf or a remote waterway, and their cell phone doesn’t get reception. A marine band radio is much more reliable and is likely to get picked up by rescuers,” he said.

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St. Amant man missing off Grand Isle

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) – The U.S. Coast guard says it has located a body near the spot where an Ascension Parish man disappeared early Tuesday morning.  

They are now working to identify the body and determine if it is that of the missing St. Amant man.

Robbie Savoy, Jr., 32, of St. Amant was among a group of seven men who were surf fishing along Caminada Pass, near Grand Isle, when they got caught in a rip current Tuesday morning, the Coast Guard reports.

Six of the men made it back to shore but Savoy has not been seen since, the Coast Guard reported.

Savoy is the operations manager at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

The Coast Guard received a call for help at 6:52am and dispatched a 33-foot response boat and a helicopter to the scene.

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Kind of a funny story. But the woman does have a case.

Woman sues Wal-Mart over ‘Norman the nutria’

BY JANET MCCONNAUGHEY • ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER • MAY 7, 2009

NEW ORLEANS — A south Louisiana woman claims in a lawsuit that a nutria known as Norman ran at her in her local Wal-Mart, scaring her into a panic attack and a foot injury that required surgery.

Employees at the Wal-Mart in Abbeville not only knew a wild animal was at large in the store, but had given it a pet name and negligently failed to warn people about it, Rebecca T. White and her husband, Randal, allege in a state court lawsuit. 

Nutria are rodents with bright orange buck teeth. Weighing up to 18 pounds, they look like small beavers with rat-like tails. Would-be fur farmers in 22 states imported large numbers in the 1930s and ’40s, then let them go when they proved unprofitable. They proliferated in south Louisiana, where many residents call them nutria-rats or neutral-rats. 

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had little comment about the lawsuit filed April 22 in state district court in Abbeville, about 130 miles west of New Orleans. 

“A safe, clean and friendly shopping environment for customers is always our goal. We haven’t been served with a lawsuit but we are looking into the matter,” spokeswoman Michelle Bradford said Thursday. 

It isn’t clear what happened to the animal. The parish nuisance animal control officer, Duane Riebel, said he has never been called on to get rid of nutria. 

According to the lawsuit, Rebecca White had a full shopping cart when “suddenly and without warning a large wild nutria came from behind the Coke rack and ran straight towards” her on Oct. 11. 

Fearing for her safety, she “pulled her shopping cart towards her to protect her from the large vicious looking rat,” the suit continued. 

The cart ran over her left foot, breaking two bones, the Whites’ lawyer, Anthony Fontana, said Thursday. He said she underwent surgery in late February for broken bones and damaged nerves. 

Wal-Mart workers “came running” in October but made light of the incident, “telling petitioner that they could see that she had an encounter with ’Norman,’ a name the employees had given to the rat,” the lawsuit alleged. 
Fontana said Thursday that White suffers from panic attacks. 

“She got to the checkout counter,” Fontana said. “That’s the last thing she remembers. She passed out and they had to take her to the hospital in an ambulance.” 

She had had prior surgery on her back, which was re-injured when she fell, Fontana said. “They’re monitoring that as to whether she’ll need any type of treatment.” 

She is asking for compensation for pain, suffering, mental anguish, fear, disabling injuries, and medical expenses. The surgery bills aren’t yet in, Fontana said, but other medical bills totaled $1,945.93.

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Snake season approaches
Posted: May 6, 2009 04:03 PM

Updated: May 6, 2009 04:52 PM

 

By Adam Hooper - bio | email

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) – It is beginning to feel more and more like summer every day. But with the warmer weather comes the start of snake season. More often than not people try and avoid those slithering serpents, but it is important to note snakes are a vital part of our ecosystem. They feed off of rodents and insects.

But it is never a bad idea to be safe by steering clear of venomous snakes. In Louisiana there are six, the Diamond Back Rattle snake, found in eastern Louisiana, the Coral snake, the Canebreak snake, the Cotton Mouth snake, the Pigmy Rattler, and the Copper Head.

“All poisonous snakes have slits for eyes, cat eyes. They also have vents in the front of their head, where the venom is stored,” said John Robinette, with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

An old tire is a perfect example of where you might find a snake looking for food, like rodents and bugs, but snakes are not limited to these areas. You can find them anywhere, from your front yard, to the inside of your home.

“They like dense areas. Pretty much where you think a snake would be. High grass, firewood, trashy areas,” said Robinette.

But, if one does find its way into your home, Calcasieu Parish Animal Services says not to remove it yourself.

“If a snake does get into your home or on your porch just call us. We will come out and remove the snake,” said Rita Cavenaugh, with Calcasieu Parish Animal Services.

But snakes are not mean like you may think. They are just as scared of us as many of us are of them.

“Snakes do not want to bite. They would rather get away. They will not usually bite unless you put them in a position to bite,” said Robinette.

 

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Three hurt in La. twister as more storms batter Southeast

Last Update: 5/04 9:16 pm

(IDM) NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Three people are recovering from injuries from a tornado that plowed throw southern Louisiana, damaging nearly two dozen homes. Police say one woman was treated for a broken leg after she was struck by flying debris as she ran from her mobile home to her mother’s home. The two others have minor injuries. The National Weather Service says the tornado was up to 100 yards wide when it hit the area about 140 miles northwest of New Orleans. The storms unleashed heavy rain, which caused flooding in areas including West Virginia. Every road except for one was closed in Roane County. The rains have flooded an ambulance parking lot and knocked out power to thousands. Sunday’s storms are blamed for at least one death and possible tornadoes from Mississippi to Georgia. Emergency officials say at least 100 homes were damaged.

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Brothers rescue girl from tide

Matt Stamey/Staff

Paul (left) and Chris Watson talk about how they rescued a teen from drowning in Grand Isle on Good Friday.

By Daniel McBride
Staff Writer

Published: Friday, April 24, 2009 at 6:01 a.m. 
Last Modified: Friday, April 24, 2009 at 11:42 p.m.

HOUMA — Two young men from Houma were torn from their Grand Isle vacation on Good Friday when down the beach they heard screams — a girl had been caught in the undertow.

But brothers Paul and Chris Watson, 21 and 17 years old, responded quickly to help her.

The pair also kept her above water long enough to receive help from Grand Isle fire officials, who later said the duo saved the girl’s life.

“If they hadn’t gotten involved initially, she would have drowned,” said Grand Isle Fire Chief Aubrey Chaisson. “I really believe that.”

Paul Watson, who does offshore repair work in Lafayette, and Chris Watson, a junior at Vandebilt Catholic High School, traveled with family April 9 to Grand Isle. The next day the brothers visited the beach despite choppy waves and cool weather.

The two began body surfing near a pair of jetties, man-made rock formations running parallel to the beach.

Meanwhile Hannah Reece, a 16-year-old from Baton Rouge, was swimming with her sister and cousin about 50 yards away.

The girls caught the brothers’ attention, Paul said, when one began screaming. Hannah was caught in a powerful rip tide flowing between the jetties.

“I didn’t think anyone saw me go out there,” she said. “I was just praying and trying to stay afloat. … I’ve never been that scared before.”

The brothers said they both swam after her: Chris dove straight into the quick-moving water, while Paul headed to the jetty farther along the current’s path.

“It wasn’t like ‘I’m going to be a hero and save somebody,’ ” Chris said of the decision to plunge after Hannah. “It was just: ‘This girl looks like she really needs help.’ ”

Paul said he headed to the jetty because he thought he would be able to better assess the situation from there.

“I’m proud my little brother went in head-first,” he said.

Paul and Chris, both veteran competitive swimmers, said the current was unlike anything they had ever experienced. Chris said the powerful tide was “humbling,” and Paul said he’d never known an undertow like that at Grand Isle.

“It was the first time I swam against a current I couldn’t beat,” Paul said.

Chris found the girl clinging to a barnacle-covered structure on the sea-facing side of the jetty, he said. It was a pyramid of three wooden pilings, with horizontal bars for posting signs. Paul reached the jetty and jumped in the water to help.

“All of a sudden I saw a hand reach out to me from nowhere,” Hannah said. “I grabbed it, and he pulled me toward him.”

With Chris pulling her up, and Paul pushing from underneath they managed to lift Hannah onto the horizontal bars, using the bars like ladder rungs. She was in shock, they said.

“You could tell she was in panic,” Paul said. “She kicked me a couple of times.”

Paul fell off the piling and swam back around to the jetty. He stayed there, yelling encouragement to the Hannah and Chris.

“I told Chris to tell the girl they ran out of good looking life guards,” Paul recalled, “and had to send us.”

Chris said he was too filled with adrenaline to feel the barnacles cutting into his feet.

“My only thought was to hold onto her,” he said.

After about 15 minutes, Grand Isle fire rescuers arrived on personal watercraft. After a few false starts, they got Hannah off the pilings.

But almost immediately, the rough waves caused the vessel to flip. Chaisson said he held onto Hannah and was able to push her back onto the watercraft “Western style, like throwing her on the back of a stallion.”

Paul swam to shore, and Chris did the same after firefighters gave him a life vest.

Alice and John Watson, parents of Paul and Chris, said they were proud of their children.

Alice credited their experience on swimming teams — something common among all the Watson children — with giving her sons an edge in the situation.

“I truly believe that had they not been such strong swimmers, it would have been a different outcome,” she said.

Though the brothers said they have no formal rescue training, John said his children know more about water safety than they may think.

“Consciously or not, (they’re) aware of other kids swimming,”

he said. “I’m proud of (Paul and Chris). I don’t know what else I can say.”

Chaisson said beach visitors must be aware of their surroundings to avoid dangerous conditions like those on April 10.

“You can come here and enjoy Grand Isle, you just got to use your common sense,” said Chaisson, who advised that large waves and fast winds are warning signs. “That’s a recipe right there. You got to use your head.”

Everyone involved said it is important to remember not to try and swim against the current — a mistake Hannah made that she said wore her out. Both Hannah said the key is to stay calm during a life-or-death situation, something Paul and Chris helped her to do.

“I was really grateful,” Hannah said. “I’m glad I’m alive and I need to be safe and not take things for granted.”

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7-Foot Gator Loose In Orleans Parish Park

Nuisance Hunter Captures 2 Of 3 Gators Reported At Brechtel Park

POSTED: 6:15 pm CDT April 23, 2009
UPDATED: 6:54 pm CDT April 23, 2009

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Park workers on Thursday tried to oust an unwelcome visitor inside a popular Algiers park.

 

A 7-foot alligator was still on the loose in Brechtel Park as of Thursday evening. 

“It’s very much a common problem,” said park attendee Perrier Sanchez. “They’ve got alligators at Audubon Park, City Park, Brechtel Park.” 

At Brechtel Park, three large alligators recently tried turning a lagoon into their summer home. 

“The park spotted them and was concerned for safety, so they asked us to try and get rid of them,” said Shane Granier, of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries. 

Lt. Edward Skena with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries said agents were first notified about the problem in February and hired a nuisance hunter to capture the trespassers. But so far, the hunter has only caught two. 

“The two he caught were between 6 and 7 feet, and he has been unable to locate the third,” Skena said. “It’s between 7 and 8 feet, and he’s still trying to catch it.” 

Skena said that’s just two of about 20 gators they’ve captured this year in Orleans Parish, but park-like settings make the job much more difficult. 

Wildlife and Fisheries employees said they have to catch the alligator by hand. They’re unable to set traps because they want to protect other wildlife and small children. 

“You can’t leave those things unattended, those lines,” Skena said. “There’s a large, sharp hook, and you don’t want children to come in contact with that.” 

Instead, the hunter will fish for the gator. But Skena said, until the gator is captured, guests should use common sense. Don’t feed the alligator and keep children and small pets away from the water’s edge. 

“Basically, if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you — that’s the way I see it,” Sanchez said. 

Wildlife and Fisheries agents said they will continue to receive gator sightings as the temperatures rise, but they have had no reports of gator attacks in Orleans Parish.