Body of Louisiana barge worker pulled from Mississippi River

Recovery crews have retrieved the body of a Louisiana barge worker from the Mississippi River on Monday after the individual was reported missing over the weekend.

An intensive search effort was launched after the barge worker went missing near the south end of the Huey P. Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish, located approximately 20 miles from the city of New Orleans, on Saturday. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and U.S. Coast Guard searched for the individual by both air and water, with the latter group deploying search and rescue swimmers and a helicopter.

The body of the barge worker was recovered shortly before 10 a.m. Monday morning, roughly two miles southeast of the bridge where the individual was last seen. The cause of death has not been determined and is currently under investigation.

The identity of the deceased is being withheld until the family has been notified.

A search and recovery operation of this nature is a complex endeavor, requiring specialized technical skills and experience. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and U.S. Coast Guard have all demonstrated their proficiency in such matters by diligently conducting a thorough search of the Mississippi River and ultimately locating the body of the barge worker.