July Fourth weekend ended in tragedy for one family when a man drowned after being caught in an undertow.
The body of 47-year-old Luis Arturo Polanco Morales, of Denham Springs, was found by authorities about ten to 15 feet from the shore line.
At first they believed the tide had washed Mr Morales up but witnesses to the sad event at Grand Isle, Louisiana, reported the body had been carried to shore by dolphins.
Did they help? Witnesses at Grand Isle, Louisiana, reported the drowned body of Luis Arturo Polanco Morales had been carried to shore by dolphins |
Tragic: Mr Morales, a young girl and another man had been fishing on rocks in Grand Isle when the girl fell in, left, while right, dolphins are often spotted off the shoreline at the beach |
Washed up: Grand Isle Fire Chief, Aubrey Chaisson, gestures to where Mr Morales' body was found drifting about ten to 15 feet out to sea |
Could be: For Cesar Zuniga, a holidaymaker from McAllen, Texas, reports of dolphins bringing the body to shore is credible. 'They're keeping an eye on us,' he said |
'I guess it could be possible,' Cesar Zuniga a holidaymaker from McAllen, Texas, told ABC26 News.
'They're mammals. I think they're intelligent enough to do stuff like that.'
Mr Morales, a young girl and another man had been fishing on rocks when the girl fell in, witnesses told Coroner's investigator Tommy Evans.
Both men jumped in to rescue the girl.
The other man made it out with her, but Mr Morales was dragged off by the current.
After three hours authorities called off the search.
'About an hour later, we got a phone call when the tide brought him in, and actually, he was 10-15 feet he had drifted in,' Grand Isle Fire Chief, Aubrey Chaisson, said.
For Mr Zuniga the story about the dolphins is genuine.
'I guess I call it a miracle, right?' he said. 'I mean, I'm sorry somebody lost their life, but for them to do that to bring the body shore, they’re keeping an eye on us.
'They're keeping an eye on us.'
Chief Chaisson's advice for anyone stuck in an undertow is not to panic.
The water will take you a way out, but go with it and it will eventually release you.