ON 7-11-2009 AT AROUND 1PM, OPERATOR WENT FROM HIS RESIDENCE TO WARRIOR CREEK ACCESS AREA OF KERR SCOTT RESERVOIR IN WILKES COUNTY NC.  WIFE ADVISED HE HAD LEFT TO KAYAK AND SWIM.  SHE ADVISED HE OFTEN SWAM AT THE LAKE STARTING THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL.  SHE ADVISED HE WAS AN EXCELLENT SWIMMER.  OPERATOR HAD DIABETES, AND LOW BACK PROBLEMS.  

APPROXIMATLY 3:26PM A BOATER HAD NOTICED A RED KAYAK ADRIFT AND OPERATOR FLOATING FACE DOWN, SLUMPED OVER IN THE ATER IN A COVE AREA OF WARRIOR CREEK.  NO WITNESSES WERE FOUND OBSERVING OPERATORS VESSEL OPERATION OR SWIMMING.  EMERGENCY PERSONEL RESPONDED AND RECOVERED OPERATOR AND THE KAYAK.  OPERATOR WAS DECEASED AT THE TIME OF RECOVERY.  I OBSERVED THE KAYAK.  IT HAD NO DAMAGE TO IT.  A TYPE III PFD WAS IN THE HULL WITH OTHER PERSONAL ARTICLES (PALM CELLPHONE, CAR KEYS, GREEN CROC SHOES.  ALSO IN A CLEAR DRY PLASTIC STORAGE BAG WAS DIABETIC SUPPLIES.  LOCATED AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT TUCKED AWAY WAS A GLASS PIPE COMMONLY USED FOR MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION.  IN A SMALL PLASTIC BAG WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF DRIED GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLE MATTER CONSISTENLY IDENTIFIED THROUGH MY LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE AS MARIJUANA.  THE PIPE AND MARIJUANA WAS DESTROYED.  OPERATORS BODY WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER MORGUE.  HE WAS TRANSPORTED ON MONDAY 7-13-09 TO RALEIGH FOR AN AUTOPSY AND BLOOD TEST.  RESULTS ARE CURRENTLY PENDING.

DEPUTY OF WILKES COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE AND MYSELF RESPONDED TO LISTED RESIDENCE FOR NOTIFICATION OF NEXT OF KIN.
WILKESBORO                    