RCSO #13-0611

SYNOPSIS:
During a "Bear Laker" storm, 20 year old male falls from the stern of a sailboat, injuring lower left leg on some of the sailboat's riggings.  Once in the water, male is hit in the head by the sailboat twice as it "slams" down from two large waves and is briefly knocked unconscious on both occasions.  Male is rescued by persons on a power boat.  Powerboat's motor will not restart.  People on board powerboat paddle the boat to shore just south of the Eastside Boy Scout Camp.  Male is transported to Logan Regional Hospital via ambulance.


SCENARIO:
On 7/11/2013 shortly before 19:11 hours, during a "Bear Laker" storm with strong winds blowing to the south creating waves at least 4 feet high on Bear Lake, camp staff at the Miller Aquatics Base Boy 
Scout Camp observed a moored sailboat  slowly moving to the south on the lake.  It appeared that the storm was causing the sailboat to lift and move its anchorage.  It also appeared that the sailboat's anchor line had either caught up around the keel or the small outboard motor as the stern of the sailboat was facing into the wind and oncoming waves.

Four people donned lifejackets, entered the water at the camp's waterfront and swam to the sailboat.  When these four people were safely on the sailboat, SUBJECT1 notified the camp director via cell phone at 19:11 hours.  The four people attempted to prepare the sailboat for sailing.  The strong winds had broken some of the riggings and they could not successfully sail the boat.

SUBJECT2 AND VICTIM were at the stern of the sailboat while SUBJECT3 and SUBJECT4 were near the mast.  VICTIM had a knife and was attempting to cut the mooring line that was caught around the small outboard motor on the sailboat.  A large wave hit the stern of the sailboat and knocked VICTIM into the water, over some of the metal riggings and lines, causing a gash in his lower left leg, slightly below the knee.  VICTIM was under the stern of the sailboat when another wave caused the sailboat to slam down onto him and his head, knocking him unconscious.  SUBJECT2 was able to grab VICTIM by his life jacket, over the side of the sailboat, and keep his head out of the water.  VICTIM regained consciousness and continued to try to release the mooring line from the motor.  SUBJECT2 reported that VICTIM told her that his head hurt and his leg was stinging.  VICTIM was still not fully conscious and was drifting along the starboard side of the sailboat.

Operator2, operator of the powerboat , SUBJECT1, and another person approached in the powerboat to provide assistance.  The two boats were very close together, starboard to starboard, as another large wave hit both boats.  VICTIM was "sandwiched" between the two boats and was hit again in the head and left side of his body by the sailboat.  VICTIM was knocked unconscious again.  SUBJECT4 and another person both jumped into the water to assist VICTIM.  SUBJECT2 jumped into the water and swam to shore to have someone call 911.  SUBJECT3 stayed on the sailboat.
Laketown