Emergency responders found the body of a young boy Monday miles from the Louisiana sandbar where he was playing on the Sabine River.
Three men drowned Sunday trying to save him near Merryville, Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford said.
Sheriff Herford identified the three adults as Troy M. McCollough of the Junction community, Kelly Bailey of Hornbeck, and Austin Scott of DeRidder. They were found in the waters of the Sabine River.
“These three men tragically lost their lives trying to rescue a young boy,” Sheriff Herford said. “They are heroes and should be remembered that way. My deepest condolences and my prayers are with the families of all those involved.”
The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office located the fourth victim, the young boy, downriver about 8:30 a.m. Monday morning.
Beauregard Parish was under a flash flood warning this weekend and swift, high water in the river was a factor in the deaths.
Sheriff Herford thanked the numerous agencies that aided the sheriff’s office and the families of the victims including several fire departments, sheriff’s departments, Wildlife & Fisheries, state police, and others.
