ACCORDING TO THE BOAT OPERATOR, THREE GENTLEMEN INCLUDING HIMSELF LEFT OUT OF THE ENGELHARD BOAT ACCESS AREA ON HIS BOAT TO GO FISHING AROUND 11:00AM THE 26TH DAY OF JULY 2009.  THEY HEADED OUT NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE PAMILICO SOUND IN FAR CREEK AND DROPPED ANCHOR.  AS THEY BEGAN TO FISH, THE WIND PICKED UP TO AROUND 15-20 MPH AND BLEW THE BOAT TOWARDS THE NORTHERN SHORE LINE OF FAR CREEK.  OPERATOR TRIED STARTING THE BOAT, BUT THE MOTOR WOULD NOT CRANK.  OPERATOR CLAIMS AS THE BOAT WAS BUMPING UP AGAINST THE MARSH, IT KNOWCKED THE DRAIN PLUG OUT OF THE BOAT.  THE VESSEL THEN BEGAN TO TAKE ON WATER.  THIS HAPPENED AT 1PM.  THEY ALSO CALLED THE COAST GUARD.  THE BOAT THEN GROUNDED TO THE BOTTOM SINCE THE WATER DEPTH ALONG THE EDGE OF THE MARSH WAS ONLY 1.5 FEET DEEP.  OPERATOR STATED THAT A COAST GUARD BOAT AND HELICOPTER WERE DISPATCHED, AND THEY WERE ALSO TOWED IN BY THE COAST GUARD BOAT.  OPERATOR, A DIABETIC BEGAN TO FEEL ILL BECAUSE OF HIS BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL DROPPING FROM NOT HAVING ANYTHING TO EAT SINCE 8AM OF THE SAME DAY.  AN AMBULANCE WAS DISPATCHED AND OPERATOR WAS TREATED AND RELEASED AT THE ENGELHARD ACCESS AREA.  NO DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE WAS SUSPECTED AND NO CHARGES WERE FILLED.
ENGELHARD                     