The family of Rodney Varnado, who tragically drowned in St. Tammany Parish last weekend, told The Daily News there were several factual errors in the press release issued earlier this week by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. The family issued the following correction:

“On Saturday, Nov. 29, Rodney Varnado was leaving the Indian Village boat launch near Slidell with his three grandsons and two other passengers.

The front of the boat started to fill with water, and after the boat took on some water the front of the boat took a nosedive. All the passengers moved to the back of the boat, but that effort was unsuccessful, and the boat continued to fill up with water.

They were left with no other choice but to jump in the freezing cold water. The other four passengers were able to safely make it back to shore but not Rodney Varnado and one grandson.

Once one of the grandsons reached land, he went for help.

Two nearby campers heard the screams for help, and they located Varnado and the grandson.

Once Varnado was back at the landing, his grandson and one of his friends tried to do CPR, but unfortunately it was unsuccessful.”