Teen saves kids after family boat trip turns deadly

St. Tammany Parish — A family fishing trip turned tragic Saturday, leaving 41-year-old Terry O’Keefe, Jr. dead and 30-year-old Jonie Morgan missing and presumed drowned. But the three children who were out with them survived thanks to a selfless teenager.

St. Tammany residents were saddened, but not shocked.

“It’s all about safety because the water and Mother Nature will be the first one that eats you up,” said Man Lott, who was born and raised on the Pearl River.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said O’Keefe’s body was found Sunday morning.

Dive teams, sonar and trained dogs are all part of the recovery effort that will resume Tuesday at daybreak, in hopes of finding Morgan.

The three children, ages five, six and eight all survived thanks to a brave teenager, Pine High School sophomore Leyton Page, who was planning to go hunting but instead became a hero. He went out to help the struggling family, and his own boat capsized in the process.

In a phone interview, Page told WGNO that he was speaking with Jonie Morgan right before she disappeared. He said she told him that the family was leaving the river, but their boat stalled and then they got too close to the dam. Then the boat flipped, striking Mr. O’Keefe in the head.

Bogalusa resident Man Lott was raised on the river and says anytime you’re near a seal or dam, nature’s the boss.

“When the river’s going down and there’s a tidal current going over the seal, it’s like a washing machine. If it gets you in there, it’s gonna keep tumbling you, says Lott.

Page said that from what he could tell, neither adult was wearing a flotation device. However, the children who survived did have them on.