NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A sixth victim has been recovered from the wreckage of a lift boat that capsized last week off the coast of Louisiana, an official confirmed Wednesday.
The body of Quinon Pitre, 31, of Franklin was recovered from the vessel Tuesday, Jamie Folse, chief of investigations for the Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office, said in an email. The Seacor Power overturned in roughly 55 feet (17 meters) of water about 8 miles (13 kilometers) off the Louisiana coast during stormy weather April 13.
Six of the 19 people who were aboard were rescued. Six bodies had been recovered as of Wednesday.
The Coast Guard suspended its rescue efforts Monday as the likelihood that anyone else survived diminished. Vessel owner Seacor Marine has continued searching the vessel for signs of the seven still missing.
Others among the officially identified dead are the vessel’s captain, David Ledet, 63, of Thibodaux; Anthony Hartford, 53, of New Orleans; James Wallingsford, 55, of Gilbert; Ernest Williams, 69, of Arnaudville; and the Lawrence Warren, 36, from the New Orleans suburb of Terrytown.
Lift boats like the Seacor Power have three legs that can be lowered to the sea floor to raise the ship off the water to serve as a temporary offshore platform. The boats are often used in the oil industry.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident. An NTSB official said Monday that it could be anywhere from one to two years before the investigation is completed.
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