SYNOPSIS
On 01/01/2013, three male adults grounded a 15 foot Carolina Skiff on a sandbar while fishing on the ocean side of Matanzas Inlet within St. Johns County Florida. V1 was grounded on the sandbar and began to take on water and the operator could not restart V1. The occupants donned their life vest and exited V1 and were swept seaward with the tide before being rescued by a Good Samaritan in a nearby vessel. The Good Samaritan transported them to the Fort Matanzas boat dock where they received medical treatment from St. Johns Fire Rescue. One male was transported to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine where he succumbed to his injuries.   
ACCIDENT ANALYSIS
PRE-ACCIDENT
The weather was clear and sunny about 73 degree air temperature and about 61 degree water temperature. There was a light breeze and a slight chop on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean except for the wave action on the submerged sandbar just outside the inlet. They were idling V1 on the ocean side of Matanzas Inlet Bridge.  Operator operated V1 to close too the submerged sandbar in the middle of the inlet.  


ACCIDENT
V1's propeller struck the submerged sandbar causing the engine to stall. Operator attempted to restart V1 but was unable to. The waves began to come over V1 and began to fill V1 with water.
POST-ACCIDENT
Operator, Victim and Occupant2 put on their life vests and attempted to gain the attention of passing boaters in the area. Operator, Victim and Occupant2 exited V1 to attempt to make it to shore. While walking on the submerged sandbar they stepped into deeper water and were swept seaward by the outgoing tide. 
A nearby vessel saw the incident and rescued the distressed boaters and transported them to the Fort Matanzas boat dock where they received medical treatment from St. Johns Fire Rescue. Victim was transported to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine. 
On January 04, 2013 victim succumbed to his injuries he sustained.     
CONCLUSIONS
Based on evidence, statements and information gathered to date, I have concluded the following:  
There were no violations of Federal Navigational Rules or Florida State Statutes. I did find that all equipment on V1 was in working order at the time of my inspection including the engine and bilge pump. For unknown reasons V1's engine would not start for Operator while grounded on the submerged sandbar. Operator stated this was the reason for the occupants to leave V1 for the safety of shore.  

Victim was transported to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine where he succumbed to his injuries.   St Johns Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as  Anoxic Brain Injury and Near Drowning.
ST. AUGUSTINE