The victim of a drowning Saturday, May 31, 2025 on Lake Erling has been identified as Curtis James Hildreth, 62, who lives on Columbia County Road 12 southwest of Magnolia.

Reports said that at 2:10 p.m. Saturday, May 31, 2025, the Walker Creek and Lake Erling volunteer fire departments were dispatched to the lake after a 12-foot john boat with two people and one dog aboard capsized.

Hildreth drowned in about 6 feet of water. The other person and the dog survived after making their way to the bank. The survivor’s name has not been made public by authorities.

The boaters were trying to reach the bank because winds picked up.

The Springhill, LA, Fire Department Dive Team recovered Hildreth’s body at about 5:15 p.m. Saturday. The incident took place off Lafayette County Road 69 on the east side of Lake Erling.

The body was released to Henderson’s Mortuary of Magnolia.

In addition to the dive team and the fire departments, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office also responded.