South Hays FD Dive Team
At around 1000 hrs on 16 December 2020, South Hays Fire Department Dive Team (SHFD-DT) received a request for Mutual Aid by the Texas Department of Public Safety to assist in the search for Jason D. Landry by checking a large stock pond in the area of Salt Flats Rd. in Luling, TX.
The team was on scene at 1330. At approximately 1430, SHFD-DT Divers, supported by Texas DPS, Texas Game Wardens, TX SAR, and Luling Fire Department small-boat operators, entered the water and began clearing the primary point of interest detected by Game Wardens' side-scan sonar: a shadow detected 25 feet off shore.
Divers cleared the point of interest using a fan search method and continued out to 60 feet with negative results. The team then repositioned and repeated the search pattern, overlapping the previous pattern to ensure accuracy.
Dive operations were suspended at 1800 due to fading light conditions.
Pumps have continued draining the pond overnight and, as of this writing, your SHFD Dive Team stands ready to respond to any further search requests.
Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.
For more information, please see the following news reports.
Law enforcement searching for Texas State student who disappeared after crash near Luling
Search continues for missing Texas State student
Hope fading as search for missing Texas State student ends third day
Divers Tony B and Bill J discuss bottom conditions (cold, muddy, blackout visibility) while awaiting the plan for the next phase of the search. Luling FD Swiftwater Boat in the background.
Divers Tony emerges from the pond after a search rotation. Dive Bill is standing by to assist as he detaches from the tender line held by Tender John G.
Diver Bill has emerged from the ooze and is standing by for further orders. He's standing in the water to regulate his temperature. While the air and water temperatures were in the mid-50's, the contaminated-water dry suit he is wearing gets very hot, very quickly.
Diver Bill maintaining the search pattern by crawling through the shallows to the next deep spot. While the depth there was not more than 12 inches, the bottom was a further 12-18 inches of soft, viscous mud which made standing and walking impossible. Divers used this opportunity to feel in the mud for any items which may aid the search.
Diver Bill comes to the end of the mud flat and descends to continue the search.
Diver Bill on standby as Diver Tony executes the search pattern.
Tender John G. and Lt. James S. walking towards our new operations trailer.
Tender John G. maintains tension on the line as Diver Tony continues the search. Diver Bill stands by to assist.
Tender John G. pays out line so the diver can reverse direction and cover new ground.
Shore personnel standing by during continued search operations after clearing the initial target area.
