V1 WAS TRAVELING SOUTH FROM BEER CAN ISLAND.  V1 OPERATOR PUT THE VESSEL IN NEUTRAL AND WALKED TO THE STERN OF THE VESSEL ONTO THE DIVE PLATFORM TO URINATE.  THE OPERATOR STATED THAT THE SEAS WERE ROUGH AND THE HIGH WIND CAUSED HIM TO FALL OVERBOARD.  HE WAS UNABLE TO SWIM BACK TO THE VESSEL.  THE CURRENT CARRIED THE VICTIM IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE VESSEL.  THE HIGH WINDS PUSHED THE VESSEL FARTHER AWAY FROM THE OPERATOR.  THE VICTIM WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF APOLLO BEACH AT "C" CUT.  THE VICTIM WAS TAKEN ABOARD USCG VESSEL 25362 AND TRANSPORTED BACK TO HIS VESSEL.  THE VESSEL DRIFTED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE EAST AND ENDED UP AGAINST THE ROCKY SHORE OF APOLLO BEACH WHERE IT SUSTAINED DAMAGE BELOW THE WATER LINE RESULTING IN FLOODING IN THE CABIN AREA.  THE VESSEL WAS RELEASED TO THE VICTIM AND HE WAS ARRANGING SALVAGE IN THE MORNING.
APOLLO BEACH                  