On 05/31/2010 at approximately 9:00 am, I met with operator at Passavant Memorial Hospital regarding a boating accident that he was involved in on Meredosia Bay on 05/28/2010.  Operator stated that on that day at approximately 1:20 pm, he was attempting to put out his anchor in order to fish about 50 feet out in front of the Meredosia Bay boat launch.  As Operator dropped the anchor overboard the right stern, he leaned on the rear boat seat for support, but the seat broke, causing him to fall face first overboard.  When he came back up above the water line, he grabbed the edge of the boat with his hands. He stated he was not wearing a life jacket (PFD).  Operator stated he could not pull himself back into his boat, so his fiancee, (who was the other occupant of the boat) grabbed ahold of operator's arms and held on to him while she screamed for help.  The screaming of occupant caught the attention of a nearby boat.  They came to Operator's location and helped pull him aboard the boat. opeartor stated that he fears he would have drowned if not for the actions of occupant, and good samaritans.  The water was deep at this location due to the backwater from the river being at flood stage.

After getting Operator aboard the boat, they took him to shore near the Shady Acres Trailer Park and called for EMS.  An ambulance arrived and transported  Operator to Passavant Memorial Hospital for treatment.  Operator stated he received bruised ribs and chest, scratches and scrapes on both his legs, and suffered from extremely low blood pressure, likely caused by shock.  Operator was admitted to the hospital due to the low blood pressure.

Operator stated that the reason the boat seat failed was because he had recently had a friend install an after market boat seat, but the screws used to secure the seat to the boat was too short and pulled out of the attached plywood base.

In conclusion, the boating accident was a result of an improperly installed boat seat that caused Operator to fall overboard when the seats mounting screws failed to support his weight.
Meredosia                     