Operator was operating a pwc on fontana lake.  Operator has very little experience operating any vessel or pwc and has not had any formal instruction or boating safety education class.  Operator stated that he was between fontana dam and eagle creek area near the middle of the channel and decided to turn the pwc around and proceed back to fontana marina.  Operator stated he thought he was traveling at a speed of around 20 mph.  His passenger riding the back of the vessel was 23 year old.  Upon turning the pwc to the right, the pwc threw both passengers off the pwc.  Operator further stated that he had slowed down considerably before starting the turn and operator was aware of the nimbleness and handling abilities of the watercraft.  operator's passenger had suffered soreness in her left side due to the fall off of the watercraft.  About 1 hour later she decided that she needed to go to the hospital to further check out her injuries.  Graham county ems was contacted at 5:17pm and she was transported by ambulance from the fontana marina to swain county hospital.  She was xrayed for broken ribs and no fractures were found.  She was diagnosed with bruised ribs and was treated and released.  The following day the pain progressed and she went to a hospital located in charlotte nc where further xrays were taken.  Their findings were that she had suffered a fractured left rib.  Operator further stated that upon falling from the pwc, his left elbow struck the passenger.  Operator was cited for not having a boating safety education course.  I feel as if operator would have completed this course, he would have known about the handling and nimbleness of the pwc and this accident could have been prevented.  I also feel as if he were traveling at a speed greater than 20 mph as operator stated.  Both subjects were wearing a type iii pfd.  There were no alcohol or drugs involved in this accident.  No further investigation is needed in this accident.
FONTANA                       