Deputy Brant Duplechain (right) with the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Office (JDSO) was recently recognized for his heroic actions that saved a man's life earlier this month.

Duplechain is pictured here with JDSO Patrol Commander Douglas Britnell (left), who presented him with a plaque for his actions and quick thinking while on duty.

At approximately 1103 hours, August 31, 2018 a 911 call was received in reference to a worker at the Hardy Rice Drier had his hand severed by an auger.

The caller said they tried a tourniquet but was not stopping the bleeding and the victim was losing consciousness.  

Deputy Duplechain was working the Lacassine Substation and was monitoring his radio. Deputy Duplechain closed the substation and responded to the call due to the severity of the injury and his close proximity.

Upon Deputy Duplechain’s arrival, he observed Robert Buatt (retired Wildlife and Fisheries Agent) was attempting to hold pressure on the severed limb to stop the bleeding but was not successful. 

Deputy Duplechain retrieved his medical bag from his unit and applied a tourniquet on the victim, Randy James Mallett, and stopped the bleeding.

Deputy Duplechain then cut open the auger pipe with a grinder and sledge hammer and retrieved Mallett’s severed hand.

He placed the severed hand in a bag of ice and gave it to Acadian Ambulance personnel upon their arrival. Mallett was air lifted to a trauma center where he survived.

Without Deputy Duplechain’s actions, Mallett would not have survived.Sent from my iPhone