Cassandra Branch, left, who was rescued by East Carroll Parish Fire Department from the swirling backwater of the Mississippi River Wednesday, stands with a cousin, Norma Branch, outside the East Carroll Parish Hospital emergency room in Lake Providence.(The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[06/06/02]LAKE PROVIDENCE A teen and a man and woman who tried to rescue him all drowned in Mississippi River backwater here Wednesday afternoon.

The teen was identified as Jeffrey Whitty, 14, the oldest in a group of seven children apparently cooling off in river water beside the mainline levee that borders the town.

The adults were identified as Richard Patterson and Beverly Branch, both 31, who were among those who rushed from nearby homes or businesses and into the water.

East Carroll Parish Sheriff Mark Shumate said the children, ages 9 through 14, were in and around water just across the levee, a few hundred yards, from downtown.

The area is about a half-mile from the river’s main channel, but since the river is above flood stage, it has an especially strong current, Shumate said.

“There’s normally not but a small amount of water there,” Shumate said. “The only problem is the river’s up and back up against the levee. The current’s coming from the main river.”

Downstream at Vicksburg, the Mississippi was at 45.1 feet on the gauge this morning, having past its crest Sunday, but still 2.1 feet above flood stage.

Shumate said two of the youngsters ran across the levee to a cleaning business and reported that at least one of the group of swimmers was in trouble. People at the business called 911, and the sheriff got the word about 12:30, he said.

Shumate said he and Police Chief Aaron “Rudy” Threats were the first two emergency workers to arrive and he immediately dispatched two of his department’s boats, which were soon joined by five others, including one from the fire department and one from the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and three from local citizens.

People immediately began rushing from town to help, Shumate said. Patterson was either a barber or studying to be one, police officer Renee Jones said. Branch had a nephew and son in the group and rescued her nephew before going back into the water to help others, Shumate said. Beverly Branch’s sister Cassandra Branch rescued Cassandra’s son, East Carroll Parish Coroner Tina Whatley said.

A police officer who also went into the water trying to make rescues was treated at the East Carroll Parish Hospital, apparently mainly for heat exhaustion, Whatley said.

“The paramedics and EMTs were physically and emotionally drained, it was so hot and humid,” Whatley said.

Two of the group of children were rescued with one boat, Shumate said.

Jones said when she left the scene about 40 cars of townspeople were on and around the levee, and about 100 people were later at the hospital, where the bodies were taken after they were recovered.

Fire Chief Jimmy Coleman said the water in that area could be 30 feet deep in places, due to digging on that side of the levee for levee construction that has gone on within the past six or so months.

Shumate said the strong, high water there was crossing an old roadbed that “makes the current even worse.”

“When the water gets back in its banks there will be water there, but it will be in borrow pits,” Shumate said.

Shumate said the adults and at least several of the children must have been good swimmers since they swam for quite a while.

“Even a real good swimmer can have a problem there,” he said.

Coleman, Jones and Shumate said attempts to swim in that area were not common.

“That water’s too rough to be over there,” Coleman said. “They shouldn’t be there, period. That’s not a swimming hole.”