V1 WAS PROCEEDING EAST BOUND FROM MARKER #6 IN MADEIRA BEACH AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. V1 PROCEEDED TO CROSS THE WAKE OF ANOTHER VESSEL WHEN V1'S STEERING SUDDENLY BROKE, CAUSING V1 TO MAKE AN ABRUPT STARBOARD TURN KNOCKING THE OPERATOR DOWN AND ONE OCCUPANT INSIDE THE BOAT AND EJECTING THE OTHER OCUPANT OUT THE PORT SIDE OF THE VESSEL. V1 OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VESSEL, HOWEVER, NOT BEFORE V1 CONTINUED IN A 180 DEGREE CIRCLE AS THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE OCCUPANT THAT FELL OVERBOARD. V1 OPERATOR ATTEMPTED TO HELP THE VICTIM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUE TO STEERING FAILURE. A TOWBOAT US VESSEL WAS BEHIND V1 AND ASSISTED IN PICKING UP AND TRANSPORTING THE VICTIM TO DOCK, LOCATED AT 215 BOARDWALK PLACE, MADEIRA BEACH, WHERE THE VICTIM WAS LIFE FLIGHT TO BAYFRONT MEDICAL CENTER. AN INSPECTION OF V1 WAS CONDUCTED AT DOCK, AND REVEALED THAT THE TELEFLEX STEERING CABLE HAD BROKEN WITHIN THE TUBING BETWEEN THE STEERING HELM AND THE MOTOR.
MADEIRA BEACH                 