On april 3, 2012, at 1926 hours i was dispatched to a boat accident on long lake within the greene-sullivan state forest property. Sullivan county dispatch relayed information of a capsized boat approximately 200-300 feet from the shore with a person clinging to the boat. Dispatch reported the individual was yelling for help.  
     i arrived on scene at 1933 hours and could see the boat near the west end of the lake. The person was clinging to the boat and wasn't responding to verbal communication. I launched my boat and a bystander was willing to accompany me to assist. As i approached Operator he was holding onto the bow of his boat and not moving. Operator's boat was flipped over but still floating. Operator was unable to move with his arms being rigid in the fetal position. Operator had the symptoms associated with being severely hypothermic. Operator was fully dressed in clothing and didn't possess a personal floatation device. Bystander and i grasped Operator arms and pulled him into my issued boat. Operator was moaning in pain when we outstretched his arms to pull him into the boat. Operator was removed from the water at 1939 hours and taken to the shore where sullivan county ambulance team assumed medical treatment. Operator was taken to the sullivan county community hospital. 
     i located the initial witness who discovered the capsized boat. Witness said she was driving west on the state forest road and noticed an object on long lake. She reported the sunset made it difficult to clearly identify the object. Witness said she yelled out several times with no response. She contacted her father, who lived nearby to assist. When father arrived the victim (Operator) responded by yelling for help, prompting father to call 911.
     i went back to the capsized boat to further investigate. The boat was identified as a 10 foot aluminum lowe jonboat. I didn't locate any floating items and towed the boat to the shore. I noticed a rope and anchor was still attached, which caused the boat to stay stationary following the accident. Once the boat was turned over, right side up, i began inventorying items that were inside the boat cavity. The items included:1 fishing pole1 personal floatation device (us coast guard approved type iii) 1 boat paddle 1 styrofoam bait container 1 anchor/ 1 black rope (attached to stern of boat)
     i photographed the boat and accident scene. The water temperature was 55 degrees f. The boat was released to Operator's wife. 
     at about 2200 hours i interviewed Operator who was still hospitalized for hypothermia. Operator was able to recount his actions prior to the accident. Operator said he was fishing alone on long lake and remembered checking his cell phone at 1830 hours. Operator said he was going to call his wife, as they planned to eat dinner at the boat ramp. Operator said after checking his cell phone he decided to wait to call her once he made it back to the shore. Operator reported he began pulling up his anchor and thrashed the anchor in the water, attempting to remove the mud. Operator said when he did this, he accidentally snagged his wire basket containing fish and it became detached from his boat. He could see the metal basked slowly sink, and attempted to the snag the basket using his anchor attached by the rope. 
     earlier Operator reported he recently replaced a broken boat seat with a “lounge chair”. Operator mentioned the chair was placed near the middle of the boat. 
     as Operator attempted to retrieve the fish basket the “lounge” chair slipped out sideways, causing him to fall overboard. Operator indicated when falling overboard the boat also over-turned. Operator said his immediate thought was to stay calm. Operator said he committed himself to the boat trying to not panic. Operator had limited physical ability after losing a lung from cancer a year ago.

Sullivan                      