Austin Scott died attempting to save Bently Fountain from drowning, Merryville, Louisiana, August 26, 2022. Around sunset, Bently, 4, his 6-year-old sister and his mother, and a 7-year-old girl were struggling in the strong current of the Sabine River just beyond a shallow point near a beach. Bently’s mother, who called for help, could not touch the bottom as she tried to keep all three children above the surface. Also in their group along the shore, Scott, 29, a skid steer operator, and his friend, the father of the 7-year-old girl, entered the deeper water and reached the quartet. While the mother held onto the sister, Scott collected Bently and the friend grasped his daughter, and the current carried all six downstream toward a 57-year-old man, who had been alerted by calls for help, along the beach. Bently’s mother briefly saw the man going to the aid of Scott’s friend and his daughter before the man ultimately entered the water and submerged. While the 7-year-old had grasped onto an exposed branch in the river, her father, as well as Scott and Bently, went underwater and did not resurface. A nearby camper swam out to Bently’s mother and sister and brought them back to the beach. Using a float, the camper then reentered the river, reached the 7-year-old, and towed her to the beach. Bently’s mother and sister, the 7-year-old, and the camper were not injured. First-responders searched the scene into the darkness that night without finding any of the missing four. Search crews eventually found the 57-year-old man the next day, Scott and his friend two days after, and Bently three days after he submerged. All had drowned.
10467-Obituary
Austin Wayne Scott, 29, of DeRidder, LA, passed from this life on Sunday, August 28, 2022.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving parents, Angela and Chet Slaydon of Singer, LA; grandparents, Joyce and Michael Scott of Singer, LA, grandfather, Chester Slaydon of Singer, LA; brothers, Russell Meek & Chrissy of Rosepine, LA, Lee Slaydon and Alicia of Leesville, LA; sister, Alyssa Rhodes and Cody of Singer, LA and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Pearl Slaydon of Singer, LA, great grandmother, Lucille Griffin of Singer, LA.