V1 OWNER/OPERATOR HAD ORGANIZED A SIX VESSEL OUTING TO INCLUDE FISHING AND LUNCH ON A SPOIL ISLAND WITH MEMBERS FROM BOY SCOUT TROOP 99 OF ORLANDO. THE BOY SCOUT TROOP ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE MORNINGSTAR SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. THE GROUP LAUNCHED FROM BAIRS COVE BOAT RAMP ON MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND WENT FISHING FROM 0900 TO 1100 AND THE GROUP WAS TO MEET AT THE SPOIL ISLAND NEAR ICW CM #13 FOR LUNCH AT 1130. V1 WAS IDLING TOWARDS THE SPOIL ISLAND WHEN AN OCCUPANT OF V1 (SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD) EITHER JUMPED OR FELL INTO THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON FROM THE STARBOARD SIDE OF THE VESSEL. V1 OPERATOR JUMPED INTO THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESCUE THE OCCUPANT THAT FELL OVERBOARD. ANOTHER OCCUPANT OPERATED V1 BACK AROUND TO PICK BOTH OPERATOR AND OCCUPANT UP. THE OCCUPANT THAT FELL OVERBOARD WAS PULLED SAFELY ONTO V1. THE OPERATOR WAS FAE DOWN IN TH WATER NOT MOVING, AND ANOTHER OCCUPANT JUMPED IN TO RESCUE THE OPERATOR. TWO PERSONS FROM THE GROUP AT SPOIL ISLAND SHOWED UP TO PULL THE OPERATOR IN THE BOAT WHERE CPR WAS ADMINISTEREDUNTIL THEY GOT TO THE PARRISH PARK BOAT RAMP WHERE THEY WERE MET BY TITUSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND TRANSPORTED TO JESS PARRISH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. V1 OPERATOR WAS TRANSFERRED TO ICU IN CRITICAL CONDITION AND IS CURRENTLY ON A VENTILATOR. ON 4/18/2009 AT 0731, THE OPERATOR WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.
TITUSVILLE                    