‘Heroic’ anglers save man from sinking car during bass tournament, Louisiana cops say
Two anglers showed “extraordinary bravery” during a bass tournament, when they found a car sinking in the river — with the 80-year-old driver stuck inside, according to investigators in Louisiana.
The dramatic rescue happened around noon, Saturday, Feb. 8, on the Cane River, about a 170-mile drive northwest from Baton Rouge.
Brock Newcomb, 32, and Tyler Dauzat, 35, weren’t having much luck finding fish and were moving south along the river when the car came into view, the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office reported in a Feb. 10 news release.
“As they went around a bend, they initially thought they observed a boat, but quickly said excitingly to each other, that’s a car in the water,” the sheriff’s office said.
“Without hesitation, Newcomb and Dauzat quickly raced to the car in their boat, observing a man inside as it was beginning to submerge. They yelled to the elderly man to lower the driver’s door window or they would have to break it. He lowered the window, with a laceration to his face, and appeared disoriented.”
The driver’s feet “were tangled or caught” on something, but the anglers were able to lift him through the window “by his belt,” officials said.
They ferried him to the Shell Beach Boat Launch, where an ambulance provided transportation to a hospital. He is listed in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.
The identity of the man has not been released. Investigators say his Honda Accord was southbound on Louisiana Highway 494 when it veered off the road and plunged into the river.
Newcomb and Dauzat live in Deville, about a 60-mile drive southeast of where the crash occurred. They were on the river participating in the Heart of Hospice 2nd Annual Bass Tournament, a charity affair with a top prize of $4,000.
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright said what the men ”did was nothing short of heroic.”
“We believe the prompt and selfless actions of these two young men saved the life of the elderly driver who was struggling and disorientated as the vehicle was beginning to submerge,” Wright said.
“Brock and Tyler didn’t win the fishing tournament, but they had a huge win for the day! They saved a life.”
The two men issued a statement through the sheriff’s office, downplaying the idea of being heroic.
“We saw someone in need and did our best to help. We’re just glad we were able to get him out of there,” the statement said.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 8:01 AM with the headline "‘Heroic’ anglers save man from sinking car during bass tournament, Louisiana cops say."