Vessel 1 was towing three passengers on a tube; one of the tubers subsequently fell from the tube and was having difficulty swimming back to Vessel 1 because of wave action on the lake (the tuber was wearing a personal flotation device).  The remaining passengers aboard Vessel 1 tried to assist the tuber back to Vessel 1, with two of the passengers entering the water to provide assistance.  The Operator of Vessel 1, who was a poor swimmer and was not wearing a personal flotation device, and who was still aboard Vessel 1 at this time, lost his balance (possibly due to a boat wake) and fell overboard.  One of the passengers already in the water tried to assist the Operator (Victim), but became too exhausted to assist.  The Operator (Victim) was unable to keep his face out of the water.  Another boat in the area assisted the Victim and one of the passengers in the water to board their vessel and transported them to shore where CPR was started on the Victim.  Both the Victim and the passenger were then life flighted to a nearby hospital for care.

The Operator (Victim) was pronounced deceased at 12:45 a.m. on July 3, 2011 as a result of the incident.  

The assisting passenger was initially treated and released, but was later re-admitted to the hospital for kidney failure as a result of the near drowning he sustained.  He has since recovered.
Lakeview                      