‘I just did what I needed to do’

DEPUTY’S ACTIONS SAVE MAN’S LIFE

A deputy with the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office (JDSO) recently responded to a call, saving a man’s life.

On Friday morning, August 31, Assistant Shift Supervisor Deputy Brant Duplechain of Hathaway was manning the sheriff’s office Lacassine substation when a call came in regarding an auger-related injury at a nearby rice dryer. Dispatchers reported the incident was just less than two miles from where Duplechain was located.

“I knew I was the closest unit to the scene, and I had to get there quickly before the victim bled out,” he said. “In situations like this, you can’t waste any time over-thinking.”

Without hesitation, Duplechain closed the substation and signaled he was in route to the scene. He reached the location of the incident within two minutes.

Upon arrival, Duplechain discovered the victim’s hand had been caught in an auger, severing it from his arm. Retired WLF Agent Robert Buatt was also already on scene attempting to stop the bleeding, but the victim’s condition was quickly beginning to deteriorate.

“He was sitting next to the auger, leaning on the rice bin,” he said. “He was pale, and I was pretty sure he was starting to go into shock.”

Duplechain, who’s been a volunteer with the Jeff Davis Parish District 2 Fire Department in Hathaway since he was a teenager, retrieved a tourniquet from the first aid supply kit in his unit. He then applied it to the victim’s upper arm, stopping the bleeding until paramedics arrived.

“From all my years as a first responder, I automatically resorted to what I learned during my training,” explained Duplechain. “I just did what I knew I needed to do.”

After he stopped the victim from bleeding out, he then used a grinder and a sledge hammer to cut open the auger pipe and retrieve the victim’s severed hand before putting it on ice.

“I was hoping they could save his hand, so we had to be quick,” he said. “We wanted to be able to give him and the surgeons the best possible option.”

When the Acadian Ambulance unit arrived, Duplechain had the victim stabilized for transport, as well as secured and preserved his severed hand on ice in the event it could be reattached. Unfortunately, the victim’s hand was not able to be saved. However, due to Duplechain’s quick thinking and first responder training, he did save the man’s life.

“It’s unfortunate he lost his hand, but we’re glad he’s alive and will be ok,” he said. “I don’t feel like a hero or that my actions were special. This is just what we do this job for, to help people. This is our duty, and we’re glad to do it.”