I, ICO, was on Lake Michigan boat patrol with ICO when we received a message from the Lake county marine unit that a possible drowning had occurred by Hammond Marina at approximately 1630 hrs. We arrived on scene at 1700 hrs at the Hammond marina gas docks where the ambulance transporting the victim had just left and was en route to St. Catherine's hospital in East Chicago. Hammond police officers where on scene and put me in contact with two people including the fiancee of the victim before they left for the hospital. Occupant1 had been a passenger on the PWC that was operated by the victim. Occupant1 said that they were north of the Hammond Marina breakwall where they encountered some high waves and fell off of the PWC. The victim, Operator, became panicked in the water and was unable to get back on the PWC even with help from Occupant1. Occupant1 waved down another PWC operator to assist him with Operator. Operator and Occupant1 were wearing type III USCG approved PFD's. Good sam and Occupant1 were having trouble with getting Operator back on the PWC when they waved down a good samaritan boater. Good sam2 was able to get Operator on the swim platform of his boat and transport him to the Hammond gas dock. Good sam2’s wife called 911 while they were en route to the gas dock and notified Hammond police and EMS of the situation. 
Occupant1 and Good sam drove the PWC's back to the Hammond Marina beach where Operator's fiancee  and other family members were. Occupant1 and Victim’s fiance went on foot to the Hammond gas docks where medics were treating Operator and loading him into the ambulance. 
After I made contact with Occupant1 and Victim’s fiance, ICO and I went to the Hammond Marina boat launch to find where the PWC was that was involved in the accident. Cpl was advised of the situation and was en route to St. Catherine's. Both witnesses were located and ICO obtained written statements from them. I located the PWC in question, a 2005 red Yamaha 1100, with expired Illinois registration being operated by subject (Occupant1’s twin brother). Subject was instructed to bring the PWC to the boat launch to get it on the trailer. There was no obvious damage to the PWC. Subject explained that his brother Occupant1 was looking to purchase the PWC and brought it out that day to test it. 

I attended the autopsy of Operator at the Lake County Coroner's office the next day (August 12th). The forensic pathologist deemed a  preliminary cause of death for Operator was drowning with underlying medical conditions. Operator suffered a heart attack either when he fell into the water off of the PWC or while he was en route to the hospital. He also suffered from a condition called "Myathenia Gravis" which is a weakening of the skeletal muscles. Some symptoms of this disorder are breathing difficulties, frequent gagging, and the inability to cough up foreign materials in the lungs (food, water, etc.). 

The PFD that Operator was wearing was turned over to the coroner's office to be included in Operator's personal property. The PFD was in serviceable condition and did not have any noticeable defects.
Hammond