71-year-old is thrown from boat and killed by propeller, Louisiana officials say
A 71-year-old boater was fatally struck by his vessel’s propeller while he was in the water, Louisiana officials said.
Agents responded to reports of the incident at about 8:30 p.m. June 8 on the Calcasieu River near Ragley, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said in a news release.
According to an investigation, the boater — identified as Danny Harrison from Lake Charles — hit an object on the river and was thrown from his vessel, officials said. The boat continued running in circles and hit Harrison, according to officials.
He was wearing a personal flotation device, but it appears he did not have a kill switch lanyard required for the boat he was driving — a 16-foot vessel with a 40 horsepower hand tiller outboard motor, officials said.
The LDWF Enforcement Division is leading the ongoing investigation, according to officials.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Danny Harrison,” officials said in a June 10 Facebook post.
Harrison was a beloved grandfather who is remembered as giving “the absolute biggest and warmest hugs to everyone,” according to an online obituary.
“He was the most skilled fisherman and never gave up his secret fishing spots,” the obituary said.
Ragley is about a 25-mile drive north from Lake Charles in southwestern Louisiana.
