At approximately 1830 hrs on 9/24/12 the houseboat "NO FEAR" (Vessel 2) was anchored to shore in Padre Canyon, when the wind was becoming stronger.  A wind gust blew Vessel 2 off it's anchors and the vessel started to drift away in the wind.  Multiple people tried to start the motors on Vessel 2 to try and get control of the boat and park it back on shore.  Nobody was able to get the vessel started.  The people on board became panicked as the vessel continued to drift in the wind without means to control the boat.

At this time Victim boarded a PWC (Vessel 1), without putting on a PFD, to go to a nearby houseboat (Bravada One) to seek help.  Upon arriving at Bravada One, Subject agreed to assist VICTIM.  SUBJECT briefed another person on his vessel how to keep control of Bravada One in the wind storm and then boarded Vessel 1, without PFD, as the passenger behind VICTIM.  SUBJECT stated that when they were within approximately 20 yards of Vessel 2, the PWC died and VICTIM stated that the key/lanyard had fallen off into the water.  At this time VICTIM got off Vessel 1 and began swimming/searching in the water for the key.

SUBJECT then pulled on the kill switch of Vessel 1 and was able to start it and drive it the remaining distance to Vessel 2.  I presume that SUBJECT assumed that VICTIM would be able to swim over to Vessel 2.  Once SUBJECT boarded Vessel 2, he was able to get the engines started.  At this time Subject2 had boarded Vessel 1 and was trying to get it started and drive it out to look for/pick up VICTIM.  Vessel 2 was blowing/drifting into Vessel 1 at this time and SUBJECT2 had Vessel 1 capsize and go underneath Vessel 2.  SUBJECT2 was able to grab on the bow area of Vessel 2 when this happened and SUBJECT assisted him in re-boarding Vessel 2.  During this time Subject3 was on the top deck of Vessel 2 trying to call a captain to come assist them with driving the houseboat.  

Subject3 stated she saw VICTIM out in the water and he appeared to be yelling for help.  At this time she stated that VICTIM was in between Vessel 2's current location and the location where it had been anchored on the beach.  Subject4 had discovered that victim never got back on Vessel 2 around this time and boarded another PWC and began to search the water for VICTIM.  SUBJECT3 stated she tried to direct subject4 to the area where she had last seen him, but communications were difficult.

At this approximate time SUBJECT had gotten control of Vessel 2 and after checking for people in the water near the houseboat, he began driving it back to its original anchor location on the shore and he had informed the others on the houseboat of how VICTIM had jumped off Vessel 1 to look for the key.  I believe this is the first time when everybody realized that VICTIM was missing and out in the water somewhere.  As SUBJECT drove Vessel @ back toward shore, SUBJECT2 and SUBJECT3 continued to try and spot VICTIM from the top deck of the houseboat.  By this time it was getting dark and visibility was becoming poor.  When Vessel 2 was again on the shore, subjec5 also boarded a PWC and started searching the area for VICTIM.  When it became dark subject4 returned to Vessel 2 and called NPS for help.

Multiple NPS units responded and continued the search but were unable to locate VICTIM.  VICTIM was then presumed drowned.  The search for VICTIM was continued by NPS and UHP dive teams until 10/10/12 when VICTIM was located and recovered from approximately 100 ft deep water. 

CONCLUSIONS:  The ultimate cause of Victims death was his failure to wear a PFD when he boarded the PWC to go and seek help from the Bravada One  houseboat.  
