On june 23, 2013, around 2:30pm operator was operating vessel 1 with occupant in the passenger seat.  They were coming down the north east cape fear river heading towards castle hayne boat access area.  They went between what is known as the cut through.  At this point, occupant said she saw the log floating in the water but did not have enough time to tell operator.  That is when operator felt that he had hit something, but before he could stop the boat, the motor came up into the boat.  Operator went to push occupant away with his left arm.  The motor smashed into occupant's shoulder dislocating it.  Operator left arm got stuck in the propeller as the propeller began to work its way up his arm starting at his finger tips all the way up to his chest.  As the propeller got to his chest, operator fell into the water.  His pfd inflated.  Occupant reached over to try to help operator, but caught the propeller with her hand leaving minor cuts.  Operator still in the water reached back up into the boat and pulled the kill switch rope to stop the propeller and motor.  At this point, a boat happened to be going by and assisted operator and occupant.  The passing boat towed operator' boat to the river landing private boat ramp.  At this point neighbors came out and helped operator and occupant.  Both operator and occupant were brought to new hanover hospital where eventually operator was flown to chapel hill, nc.  On june 30, operator got an infection in his left arm and was rushed into emergency surgery.  The doctors had to amputate his left arm to stop the infection from spreading any further.  Operator is currently out of the icu.
CASTLE HAYNE