A boating accident claimed the life of a Westwego man, Mark A. Barrios, age 69, near Bayou Segnette, officials reported. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office were involved in the recovery of Barrios' body from the Marcello Canal on Thursday morning, as noted in a WDSU article.
According to the authorities, Barrios was found deceased around 10:30 a.m. after his 16-foot aluminum boat was discovered overturned. It is suspected that the boat struck an object in the water, although Barrios was not wearing any personal flotation device at the time of the incident. A follow-up investigation to fully determine exactly what led to the fatal incident is being led by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Details from a statement obtained by FOX8Live confirm that the body retrieved by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has been turned over to the parish coroner, who will be tasked with determining the official cause of death. This case emerges as one of two separate fatal boating incidents reported in the Orleans and Jefferson parishes on the same day.
Meanwhile, details regarding the second incident remain sparse, though it was confirmed by NOLA.com that two men were indeed dead after these incidents. The recovery of Barrios' body and the ongoing investigation into these separate tragedies continue to highlight the inherent risks associated with boating activities and the critical importance of safety measures like wearing life jackets.
