Bodies of Two More Louisiana Men Recovered After June 26 Fatal Boating Incident

On June 28, 2022, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported that their Enforcement Division had recovered two more bodies in their investigating into a fatal boating incident that occurred on June 26 in Livingston Parish.

According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, agents were notified around 4 p.m. on June 26, 2022, about three missing boaters at the Blind River’s mouth, where it feeds into Lake Maurepas. LDWF agents, along with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Fire Department, and Lake Maurepas Fire Department, immediately began searching the area.

On June 27, around 9:45 a.m., search and rescue personnel recovered the body of Michael Bryant, 48, of Denham Springs, Louisiana. Around 6:30 p.m., search crews recovered the bodies of Zachary LeDuff, 18, of Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, and Zane Bryant, 20, of Denham Springs, Louisiana. All three bodies were turned over to the Livingston Parish Coroner’s Office.

All three men were on a pontoon boat when LeDuff went swimming and became distressed. Zane Bryant attempted to save LeDuff but became distressed himself. Michael Bryant then attempted to save both LeDuff and Zane Bryant, but was unsuccessful, and the three men did not resurface.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be in charge of the investigation into this fatal boating accident. The three men were not wearing personal flotation devices.

This is an update to a story originally published on June 28, 2022.