The men were fishing in a tournament scheduled from 5:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. .  At around 7:40 p.m, the operator was continuing to fish but was unresponsive to questions from the occupant.  Approximately 5 minutes later, the operator put down his fishing pole without securing it, put up the trolling motor, took a step back and fell of the port side of the boat with his head down, face first into the water.  The occupant stated that the victims arms and feet did not raise and he went straight down into the water.  The occupant wen to the port side of the boat and jumped in after the victim.  He felt the victim's shirt but before he could grab it the CO2 inflated in the personal flotation device he was wearing and took him to the surface.  The occupant looked for the victim a few more times, then called 911 from his water-proof cell phone.  He also called other fisherman to help look for the victim.  The victim was not wearing a pfd.  It was on the passenger's seat of the vessel.  The body was recoved a few hours after the accident face down in 8 feet of water with both arms "locked" near his chest.

Coroner's report received with cause of death listed as "pending investigation" on 10/16/09.
Whittington                   