On september 7, 2013, at approximately 8:15am, Operator and victim departed inlet watch marina, carolina beach inlet and headed offshore towards ar 352.  Operator stated that the ocean was too rough to make it all the way out, so they stopped short of ar 352 and began fishing as they drifted towards shore.  They fished until approximately 11:30am and then headed back towards carolina beach inlet.  Once they got near the inlet, Operator realized they were south of the inlet channel.  Operator turned his boat and headed north towards the inlet channel markers.  After Operator turned his boat, a large wave struck the starboard side of his boat throwing himself, victim, and victim’ dog, bobo, overbord.  Once thrown overboard, Operator could see victim and bobo struggling to stay afloat mainly because bobo was panicking.  Operator stated the next thing he knew the boat they were on was headed right at him.  Operator grabbed the bow eye as the boat rode over him, but he was unable to hang on.  He then saw the boat heading towards victim who was still struggling to stay afloat and was approximately 25 feet away.  Operator yelled to victim about the boat heading in his direction, but he believed victim didn’t hear him due to the rough ocean conditions.  He did not see the boat strike victim because of the large waved, but he observed victim laying face down in what appeared to be a pool of blood.  After seeing him laying face down, Operator yelled to victim several times, but he didn’t respond.  The boat continued to circle left and headed south away from them.  Operator stated he assumed the dead mans float position.  After floating for approximately 2.5 hours, Operator heard a sound, turned, and saw a person in a yellow kayak a short distance away.  Operator was able to get the kayaker’s attention by yelling at him.  The kayaker pulled Operator close to shore where several bystanders pulled him in the rest of the way.
Operator stated he had consumed a couple of beers from the time they started fishing until the time they were thrown overboard.
Operator stated that neither he nor victim was wearing a pfd when they were thrown overboard or ever had one on during the boat trip.
An investigation was done by wildlife officers, new hanover county da’s office, and uscg cgis.  Based on the evidence seized and the information gathered from statements and interviews, it was felt there was no foul play involved in victim’ death.
A preliminary autopsy of victim was done at the onslow county medical examiner’s office.  associate medical examiner, performed the autopsy and he believed the cause of death to be a propeller strike to the head and through the skull which was consistent with an injury from a vessel’s propeller.
CAROLINA BEACH