On 07-03-10 at 6:15 p.m. I, CPO, responded to a boat accident in the Hickman's camping area of Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park.  I saw a Cardinal ambulance leaving the class A camping area.  The driver said they were transporting victim to St Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.  I drove to campsite #54 and spoke with the operator and occupant.  They said at 3:30 p.m. skier was skiing off the port side behind the boat and victim was skiing off the starboard side of the boat South West of Hickman's point on Rend Lake.  observer was the observer, there was another passenger and an operator.  Operator said the waters were congested and he drove in circles but was headed North when victim went down.  other skier said victim crossed the wake from behind the boat then attempted to cross the wake to get back behind the boat.  His legs split apart and he "went down."  He stayed in the water for a long time, thinking it was a "Charlie Hoarse."  victim was taken to a pontoon boat that was out with them.  The pontoon boat transferred victim to a vehicle at Hickman's boat ramp.  The vehicle took victim to camp site #54.  victim laid down with ice on his thigh.  victim's wife arrived and was in the process of taking victim to get medical attention when he started vomiting and going in and out of consciousness.  They called an ambulance at 6:06p.m.  I conducted a boat registration and safety inspection on victim's boat.  Operator was given a BAR with instructions to fill out the operator's portion and send it to IDNR.  

    The cause/contributing factors of the skier mishap were skier behavior (crossing wakes), congested waters and the force of the wake.  I drove to St Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital to check on victim's condition.  victim was released at 9:40 p.m.  victim's injuries consisted of a contusion (soft tissue injury) on the left thigh.  victim said the accident happened as Operator and other skier reported it.
Whittington                   