A 46 year old Grant Parish man drowned in Cane River Lake near the bridge on La. Highway 493 in the Melrose Community on Sunday afternoon according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Victor Jones Jr.

The incident was reported to the Natchitoches 911 Communications Center at 1:30 pm on Sunday.

The victim was identified as Charles Washington Sr. , 46, of Colfax, LA.

Washington had reportedly been fishing from the riverbank in the area.

The body was recovered by divers from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team which includes divers from the Sheriff's Office, Natchitoches Fire Districts 6 and 9.

According to Jones, a Sheriff's rescue boat that was on the river for the Memorial Day. Holiday weekend was on scene within minutes of the incident being reported.

Deputies attempted to enter the water for a rescue attempt, but due to the depth of the water the attempts were un-successful and deputies had to wait on divers.

Divers reported the body was located in about 20 foot of water near the bridge.

Also responding to the incident were Cane River Patrol Deputies, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natchitoches Fire District 1, Natchitoches Parish EMS and the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office.