The operator of the boat stated that he was trying to set the anchor in the current behind a dike.  The passenger had already thrown out his fishing poles and was seated on the port side off the port quarter of the boat next to the driver seat.  The operator stepped up to the bow of the boat on the decking to try and adjust the anchor which appeared to be stuck in some brush.  He pulled twice on the anchor which was secured to the aft-starboard side of the boat to a cleat.  The boat rocked towards the port side of the boat causing the operator to fall down on the bow of the boat facing aft.  When he looked up, the operator saw the passenger in the water hanging onto the port side of the boat with his left arm only and his head slumped on the left shoulder.  The operator tried to pull the passenger back into the boat but on the third attempt, the operator fell into the water head first over the passenger off the port side of the boat.  The operator surfaced after falling in and was approximately 20 feet downstream of the passenger.  The passenger was wearing a life jacket and thrashing around in the water.  The operator swam back to the boat and retrieved a life jacket for himself.  He swam back to the passenger who was unconscious and face down in the water.  The operator rolled the passenger over and began swimming with him to shore.   The operator yelled for help for approximately 30 minutes before someone heard him to send help.  The deceased victim had Parkinson's Disease and had recently had a pacemaker installed that he was having trouble with.
Herculaneum                   