ON JULY 19, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:32 PM operator (AGE 19) WAS OPERATING A PWC (VESSEL #1 - NC 4222 DJ) IN THE DUTCH SECOND CREEK PORTION OF HIGH ROCK LAKE.  VESSEL #1 WAS ALSO OCCUPIED BY An occupant (AGE 14) WHO WAS SITTING BEHIND OPERATOR AND FACING IN THE FORWARD POSITION.  OPERATOR WAS PULLING HER COUSIN, (AGE 10) ON A "WAKE JET" TUBE.  THIS PARTICULAR DEVICE HAS A LARGE TUBE THAT IS COVERED WITH A CANVASS MATERIAL AND HAS ATTACHED HANDLES.  THE CANVASS COVERING REMAINS OPEN ON THE TOP OF THE TUBE, CREATING A HOLE, WHILE THE CANVASS MATERIAL STRETCHES COMPLETELY ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE TUBE AND FORMING A SITTING AREA FOR PERSONS RIDING THE TUBE.

ACCORDING TO OPERATOR, AT SOME POINT SHE TURNED TO CHECK ON VICTIM.  OPERATOR STATED THAT SHE DID NOT SEE VICTIM SITTING IN THE TUBE AND THROUGHTTHAT SHE FALLEN OUT OF THE TUBE INTO THE WATER OR WAS DOWN INSIDE THE TUBE HOLE.  OPERATOR STATED THAT SHE YELLED FOR VICTIM, BUT SHE DID NOT ANSWER.  SEVERAL FISHERMAN WHO WERE FISHING NEARBY HEARD THE CRIES FOR VICTIM AND MADE THEIR WAY TO THE LOCATION OF THE TUBE.  THEY PULLED THE TUBE ONTO THEIR BOAT AND FOUND VICTIM AND FOUND VICTIM UNCONSCIOUS AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE TUBE AND THE CANVAS TUBE COVERING DOWN IN THE TUBE HOLE.  THE FISHERMEN DEFLATED THE TUBE WITH A KNIFE AND WERE ABLE TO REMOVE VICTIM FROM THE TUBE.  THE FISHERMEN STATED THAT HE FOUND VICTIM TO BE UNRESPONSIVE AND NOT BREATHING AND STARTED PERFORMING CPR.  ACCORDING TO THE FISHERMAN HE PERFORMED CPR FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES AND VICTIM STARTED BREATHING AGAIN.  EMS ARRIVED ON SCENE AND VICTIM WAS TRANSPORTED TO ROWAN COUNTY HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS TREATED FOR WATER INHALATION.

AFTER TALKING TO WITNESESS WHO SAW THE INCIDENT TAKE PLACE, IT APPEARS THAT WHILE BEING TOWED BEHIND THE PWC, VICTIM ACCIDENTALLY INGESTED A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER AND AS A RESULT STOPPED BREATHING.

AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED WERE WEARING APPROPRIATE PFD'S AND WITHIN THE CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS FOR VESSEL #1.  ALCOHOL WAS NOT INVOLVED AND THEREFORE NOT A FACTOR IN THE INCIDENT.
SALISBURY                     