VESSEL WAS TRAVELING WEST ALONG THE SHORELINE OF LAKE BORGNE WHEN IT BEGAN TAKING ON WATER DUE TO ROUGH SEAS. WHILE TRAVELING ALONG THE SHORELINE, THE ENGINE STRUCK BOTTOM, GROUNDING THE VESSEL. THE OPERATOR THEN ENTERED THE WATER, ATTEMPTING TO FREE THE VESSEL WHILE THE OTHER FOUR POB'S REMAINED ON BOARD. AS THE OPERATOR ATTEMPTED TO FREE THE VESSEL, THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE OPERATOR THREE TIMES ON THE LEFT FOOT DUE TO THE ENGINE REMAINING IN FORWARD GEAR. THE OPERATOR/VICTIM WAS THEN TRANSPORTED BACK TO THE EAST PEARL RIVER BOAT LAUNCH WHERE HE WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO SLIDELL HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES & ST. TAMMANY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FREED THE VESSEL, RETURNING IT & THE FOUR POB'S BACK TO THE BOAT LAUNCH. NO ALCOHOL/DRUG INVOLVEMENT SUSPECTED. ALL PFD REQUIREMENTS COMPLIED WITH BY LAW. PHOTOGRAPHS OBTAINED.
Slidell                       