The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed Wednesday that officials have located the body of a second man who drowned in the Pearl River. The search began on November 29 after it was reported that two men had embarked on the Pearl River since Poole’s Bluff was launched around 3pm and had not returned. On Thursday, officers from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recovered a body from the Pearl River. The body was near a section of the river known as Red Bluff, located at least a mile below the threshold of Poole’s Bluff, according to the sheriff. The body is presumed to be Eric Josh Williams, the sheriff said. The body of the other boater, Joe Newby, was found shortly after the boating accident. The sheriff’s office said the Cajun Navy used sonar earlier this week to locate the boat used by Williams and Newby. However, due to the location of the boat at the bottom of the river below the threshold of Poole’s Bluff and the very fast and dangerous turbulent water there, officers were unable to attach cables to the boat and bring it ashore, according to the sheriff. The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office said it intends to seek assistance from the United States Army Corps of Engineers, asking them to bring heavy equipment to the site in an effort to recover the boat. The Corps maintains the threshold and it is believed they may have a barge capable of navigating the river to the site immediately below the threshold, according to the sheriff.
The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed Wednesday that officials have located the body of a second man who drowned in the Pearl River.
The search began on November 29 after it was reported that two men had embarked on the Pearl River since Poole’s Bluff was launched around 3pm and had not returned.
On Thursday, officers from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recovered a body from the Pearl River.
The body was near a section of the river known as Red Bluff, located at least a mile below the threshold of Poole’s Bluff, according to the sheriff.
The body is presumed to be Eric Josh Williams, the sheriff said. The body of the other boater, Joe Newby, was found shortly after the boating accident.
The sheriff’s office said the Cajun Navy used sonar earlier this week to locate the boat used by Williams and Newby.
However, due to the location of the boat at the bottom of the river below the threshold of Poole’s Bluff and the very fast and dangerous turbulent water there, officers were unable to attach cables to the boat and bring it ashore, according to the sheriff.
The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office said it intends to seek assistance from the United States Army Corps of Engineers, asking them to bring heavy equipment to the site in an effort to recover the boat.
The Corps maintains the threshold and it is believed they may have a barge capable of navigating the river to the site immediately below the threshold, according to the sheriff.