On may 20, 2012, i received a call from ncwrc dispatch in raleigh of a boat accident resulting in a fatality.  When i arrived at the address, i met an oak island officer and brunswick county deputy who informed me of the witnesses to the accident.  Ems had already transported the victim to dosher hospital in southport.  I spoke with subject who had spoken with the victim shortly before the drowning.  She stated he was in his kayak beside the pier in the marina standing in his kayak.  She stated he seemed to be staggering and having diffuculty standing and noticed a large cup with ice and liquid in the kayak.  She stated he paddled out of the marina toward the main channel of the icw.  Other witnesses stated victim had been paddling for about 2 hours in the area.  At approximately 7:00pm, witnesses at the restaurant observed victim splashing about in the water seemingly trying to get back into his kayak.  They attempted to flag down a passing boat but the boat did not stop.  Another person who was docked at the marina drove his dinghy out to victim and pulled him back to the dock.  The person stated victim was floating near his kayak when he retrieved him from the water.

I spoke with the uscg and asked them to secure the kayak at the cg station until victim's wife could pick it up.  I spoke with wife of the victim, and she stated victim routinely kayaked in the area leaving from their home in caswell beach to southport.  She stated he had no health problems at the time.  She stated he had been drinking alcohol the night before but did not know if he had been drinking that day.

Victim was not wearing a pfd and there were no pfds on board.  Several witnesses stated he had a large cup with ice and liquid and seemed impaired.  Any role of alcohol in the accident will not be known until the toxicology results are returned.

UPDATED 12/6/12 
THIS IS THE COMPLETE REPORT, DUE TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE DECIDING NOT TO DO AN AUTOPSY.  THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER INFORMATION FOR THIS REPORT.
OAK ISLAND                    