Chase Michael Dupre

Chase Michael Dupre helped to rescue Osman Y. Cardona Suazo, Brayan L. Martinez Cardona, Kelin E. Martinez Mejia, and Kathrine A. Martinez Mejia from drowning, Gibson, Louisiana, December 7, 2022. Martinez Mejia, 30, Kathrine, 17, Osman, 1, and Brayan, 4, all remained inside a sedan that had left the roadway, continued down an embankment and entered a marshy canal, coming to rest about 15 feet from the bank where it began to submerge in murky water at least 7 feet deep. Dupre, 32, project manager, was driving nearby and responded, as well as another man. Dupre descended the bank, then waded and swam out to the car, reaching the driver’s side. The front passenger compartment was submerged and water quickly filled it. Dupre grasped the handle of the rear, driverside door and forced it open, and the other man responded to a point within a few feet of Dupre, behind him. By then, the front passenger compartment was submerged, and Martinez Mejia had moved to the rear passenger compartment. She had removed both boys from their car seats, and handed them both to Dupre. Dupre briefly submerged while holding both boys above the water, but quickly resurfaced. Dupre extended both arms to hand the boys off to the other man, who towed both Osman and Brayan to the bank, and to safety at the top. Dupre again reached inside the vehicle for Martinez Mejia, pulling her by her arms out of the vehicle. The other man again responded, and Dupre handed her to the man, who swam with her to the bank and ascended it with her, leaving her there. Kathrine by then moved to the rear passenger compartment and jumped into the water, briefly submerging and resurfaced. Dupre held her above the water’s surface, and the other man returned. Dupre and the other man swam with Kathrine to the bank and aided her to the top. Martinez Mejia was sore from injuries sustained in the accident. She recovered. Dupre sustained minor cuts and scratches, but did not require treatment. No others were injured.