On saturday, june 18, 2011, two people were fishing on nantahala lake in macon county.  According to operator, they had finished fishing and had returned to rocky branch access.  Operator got off the boat and began walking to the parking lot to get his truck to load his boat.  Operator explained that normally while he is getting the truck and trailer to retrieve his boat, occupant operates the boat onto the trailer.  As operator began to get in his truck, he heard someone yell "is your friend ok".  At that point operator noticed occupant's hat floating in the water and could not see him.  At this time operator entered the water to find occupant.  a nurse was with her family and they were on the opposite side of the ramp launching their pontoon boat.  She was able to see occupant's legs from the boat ramp and directed operator to that area.  On operator's second attempt, he was able to retrieve occupant.  At this time subject and an unidentified man assisted operator in pulling occupant to the edge of the boat ramp. Another nurse was close to the boat ramp in a kayak when she heard someone yell "call 911".  She immediately paddled to the shore where she explained that she was a nurse and could assist in cpr.  nurses made an initial assessment that occupant had no pulse, was blue in color, and had a very distended stomach.  Both nurses began cpr for approximately one minute when occupant began to caugh with labored breathing.  Within five minutes ems were on the scene and transported occupant to a landing zone in nantahala for occupant to be air lifted to memorial mission hospital in asheville nc.  Occupant was held overnight for observation at memorial mission hospital and released the following day.  Upon phone interview with occupant, he remembers nothing but waking up.  He has a bruise on the back of his head and scrapes on his back.  This officer conducted interviews with nurses and their statement is consistent with operator's.  No one actually saw what happened to make occupant fall overboard.
NANTAHALA                     