A tragic event unfolded in Rapides Parish this past week when a kayaker met with a fatal incident that has precipitated an investigation by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), an incident putting the dangers of water sports once again into the local conversation.
Last Sunday afternoon, LDWF agents were notified of a situation involving a boater, later identified as John A. Rashall, 48, of Ball, who had fallen out of his kayak into Buhlow Lake and did not resurface, which set into motion a search and rescue operation involving multiple agencies; he was not wearing a personal flotation device at the time of discovery.
Collaborating with the Pineville Fire Department and Pineville Police Department, the body of Rashall was discovered around 6:10 p.m., floating lifelessly in the waters that had betrayed his afternoon pursuit. The Pineville Fire Department was credited with the recovery of Rashall's body, which was subsequently turned over to the Rapides Parish Coroner’s Office for further examination.
The official statement from the LDWF regarding the ongoing investigation states that "LDWF agents will be the lead investigative agency for this fatal boating incident." As of the statement's release, the circumstances leading to Rashall's sudden departure from the kayak remain unclear.
