SYNOPSIS

On September 2, 2012, at approximately 14:50 hours, a 19 foot ski type vessel (V1) was being used to allow juveniles to hold onto its swim platform as it pulled them through the water. This incident occurred on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in St. Johns County, Florida. A six year old female, while holding onto the platform, was overcome by carbon-monoxide fumes. The victim was taken to Flagler Memorial Hospital in St. Augustine  where she underwent treatment for carbon-monoxide poisoning.


I interviewed the operator of V1, Operator at the Guana River State Preserve and the Intracoastal Waterway near channel marker number 36 in St. Johns County Florida. This was a recorded interview and the following information was learned;
•	Operator stated they were doing what they call “teak skiing.”
•	Operator had a spotter in the back of V1.
•	Spotter notified Operator to stop V1 there was a problem with one of the kids.
•	Operator stated the victim (juvenile) was not responsive.
•	Operator stated Victim must have breathed in too much carbon-monoxide and passed out.
•	They brought Victim into V1 and began first aid in an attempt to revive Victim..
•	They called 911 and waited for help.
•	Victim was going in and out of consciousness while they waited for rescue.
•	The decision was made to take Victim to Capp's Restaurant to meet rescue personnel.

Operator was read his Miranda Warnings and he stated the following after these warnings;
•	Operator was the operator at the time of the incident.
•	Operator was aware of the dangers of holding on to the back of a swim platform of a vessel.
•	Operator was aware of carbon-monoxide poisoning from this type of activity.
•	Operator stated he has done this type of activity for the past twenty years.
•	Operator stated he would not be doing this type of activity again.
This concluded my interview with Operator.
PONTE VEDRA                   