ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS MADE BY A PASSENGER WHO WAS ON THE SAILING VESSEL AT THE TIME, A GROUP OF FOUR PEOPLE LEFT owner’s RESIDENCE ON BOARD HIS SAILBOAT AND TRAVELED INTO COINJOCK BAY.  WHEN THEY REACHED THE OPEN BAY, THE WIND BLEW ONE OF THE PASSENGER'S HATS INTO THE WATER.  AT THAT TIME, OPERATOR/OWNER BEGAN TURNING THE VESSEL AROUND TO RETRIEVE THE HAT, WHEN A PULLEY OR BUCKLE CONNECTED TO THE SAIL RIGGING STRUCK OPERATOR/OWNER IN THE HEAD.  HE WAS APPARENTLY BLEEDING FROM A SMALL LACERATION ON HIS LEFT EAR, BUT OTHERWISE SEEMED OK AND TOLD THE PASSENGERS THAT HE FELT FINE TO CONTINUE ON.  SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE TOLD THE OTHER PASSENGERS HE FELT DIZZY, AND LIKE HE MIGHT "BLACKOUT".  PASSENGER STATED THAT HE THEN CALLED 911 AND TOOK OVER THE HELM.  AIDED BY DIRECTIONS FROM OPERATOR/OWNER, PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VESSEL BACK TO DOCK FROM WHERE THEY LEFT, WHERE CURRITUCK EMS WAS WAITING.  ACCORDING TO CURRITUCK EMS, OPERATOR/OWNER WALKED TO THE AMBULANCE AND GOT IN BY HIMSELF.  HE HAD A SMALL LACERATION ON HIS LEFT EAR AND A SMALL LACERATION ON HIS SCALP JUST ABOVE HIS LEFT EAR.  SHORTLY AFTER GETTING INTO THE AMBULANCE, OPERATOR/OWNER WENT INTO CARDIAC ARREST AND HAD TO BE REVIVED BY DEFIBRILATION TWICE.  HE WAS AIRLIFTED TO SENTARA NORFOLK GENERAL HOSPITAL WHERE HE REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION IN INTENSIVE CARE AT THIS TIME.
CURRITUCK                     