GhLinks Media
A tragic accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon near the Lake Bistineau dam in Bossier Parish, resulting in the drowning of a 55-year-old Ringgold man, Kenneth Gibson.
Gibson and his nephew were fishing near the dam about 1 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 20) when they decided to try to cross a rock shelf that had swift water flowing over it, Sheriff Julian Whittington said.
The two men lost their footing and fell into the fast-moving water.
Gibson’s nephew swam to the bank and got out of the water. Gibson was swept below the dam and into a canal with swirling water and never resurfaced, authorities said.
Bossier sheriff’s deputies and personnel from South Bossier Fire District, Bienville Fire District, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries and other agencies were unable to locate Gibson’s body.
The search was called off for the night.
A drawdown of Lake Bistineau in Bienville, Bossier and Webster parishes began July 29 to help reduce the spread of giant salvinia.
