Missing hunter found alive

NAPOLEONVILLE – A missing 22-year-old LSU student who turned up missing Monday while hunting has been found, according to a news release from Assumption Parish Sheriff Michael Waguespack.
The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call at about 2 p.m. Tuesday to assist in the search for a missing hunter in St. Martin Parish.
Two hunters were in the Atchafalaya Basin about 2 miles west of Grand Lake hunting wild hogs on Monday.
One of the hunters was reported missing at 5 p.m. Monday.
Wildlife and Fisheries and St. Martin Parish deputies initiated the search.
The Sheriff’s Office dispatched its Water Search and Rescue Unit members Reserve Deputy Scott Domingue, Reserve Deputy Adam Domingue and vol-unteer Timmy Gautreaux, who launched a search vessel and began the search. Their efforts were aided by a group of volunteers and hunters, Eric Alleman, Gary Alleman, Jr, Craig Aucoin, Darryl Landry, Greg Cedotal, Toby Ponville, Glen & Curt Miller, and Milton Daigle.
After an extensive search, the missing hunter, a 22-year-old LSU student from Kenner, was located at 9:38 p.m. by the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit. He was found on a gas platform nearly two miles away through the swamp from the hunters’ original location. He became separated from his buddy after having returned to the boat to retrieve an item. He stated that at one point he swam across a canal and had to remove his waders to avoid drowning. Temperatures in the area at night were well below freezing.
The rescued hunter was brought to the Belle River public launch where he was examined by Acadian Ambulance and transported to Teche Regional Medical Center. He is still under observation for exposure and hypothermia.