On Monday, May 27, at approximately 1144 hours, Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call for assistance, on Rutherford Beach, in reference to a subject being stuck under the current. The Beach Patrol Deputy arrived shortly after and was advised of two people being pulled under the water by the current, west of the entrance to the beach.

Deputies grabbed their life saving gear and headed into the water towards the break in the rocks, where the victims were last seen. Deputies observed one of the males being pulled from the water. The other subject was located on the Gulf side of the rocks, approximately 75 yards from where he had gone under the water.

Deputies retrieved the unresponsive victim from the rocks and began CPR. Deputies continued to do CPR until they were relieved by the responding medics of Cameron Parish Ambulance District #1. The unresponsive victim ultimately succumbed to drowning. The victim was identified as Mark Estes, 57, of Elton. The second victim was checked out by medics with no further medical assistance being needed.