O/o1 was driving the pwc with p1 on the back of it.  The wind was blowing hard straight down the channel.  O/o1 said he was just driving straight up the channel with no boats around when a large wave made him and p1 fall off of the pwc and capsized it.  They righted the pwc but were unable to climb back aboard it.  They were in the water by o/o1 best estimate 15-20 minutes.  O/o1 said the wave action was really rough and cold and that he and p1 had swallowed a bunch of water.  A fishing boat was nearby with o/o2 and p2 on board when they noticed the pwc without anyone on board so they went over to investigate and found o/o1 and p1 in the water.  They helped them into their vessel and called 911.  They also towed the pwc back toward the swim beach area in the oahe downstream area. 

Wco received the call and responded to it and was met by the park ranger and the stanley co so deputy.  During the initial contact wco interviewed both o/o1 and p1 and o/o2 and p2.  O/o1 was very cold but was doing ok.  P1 was lying on the beach with a towl around her and was vomiting and shaking.  An ambulance arrived and p1 received initial treatment, o/o1 also received some treatment.  It was the recommendation of the emt's to bring p1 to the hospital.  She refused initially but o/o1 ended up taking her to the hospital after the ambulance left.  

The rescuers o/o2 and p2 did not actually see the accident they only came upon the pwc and o/o1 and p1 afterwards.  

Wco interviewed all people involved and administered a pbt to o/o1 after interviews were conducted.  There was no damage to the pwc and based on interviews wco based the cause of the accident on the o/o1 inexperience and inattention to the waves and the conditions of the water

FT PIERRE                     