ON JULY 18TH, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15P.M., A VESSEL OPERATOR, OPERATOR 1, 16, OF MANDEVILLE, LOUISIANA, WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETRIEVE A FALLEN WATER SKIER IN THE AMITE RIVER NEAR PORT VINCENT, LOUISIANA. OPERATOR 1 POSITIONED THE VESSEL, A 19' BAYLINER BEARING LA. TO ALLOW THE SKIER TO BOARD THE VESSEL BY THE USE OF A LADDER ON THE STARBOARD/AFT OF THE VESSEL. OPERATOR 1 ACCIDENTLY LEFT THE VESSEL IN REVERSE WITH THE THROTTLE IDLE. AS THE SKIER, VICTIM 1, 38, OF MANDEVILLE, LA., ATTEMPTED TO HOLD ONTO THE LADDER, THE VESSEL'S PROPELLER STRUCK VICTIM 1'S LEFT LEG RESULTING IN FOUR LACERATIONS BELOW VICTIM 1'S KNEE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, VICTIM 1 WAS WEARING A PFD. OPERATOR 1 WAS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. VICTIM 1 WAS TRANSPORTED BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) TO ST. ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND RELEASED LATER THAT NIGHT.
PORT VINCENT                  