On August 3rd, 2013 at approximately 4:45PM I was in my state issued watercraft in the outlet of Great Pond in Belgrade.  I observed a boat traveling into the stream above headway speed I made contact with the operator, stated to me that there was a sick child on board and was bringing him to his vehicle so he could get him medical attention.  I followed the vessel through the channel to their vehicles that were parked off of Route 27 across from Day’s Store.  The family stated that they were bringing the child to the emergency room in Waterville.  

I attempted to call the hospital and advise them that Victim was on the way but was unable to get through.  Subject1 advised me that she is a registered nurse and checked the victim’s vitals; he was complaining that his head and neck hurt and that he felt nauseous.  Victim also vomited at least one time. Subject1 also stated that Victim’s pediatrician was called on the way to shore and notified of his injury.  

Operator then gave me an account of the events leading up to Victim falling ill.  He stated that his brother was operating the vessel at the time; Victim was being towed with his cousin behind the vessel on a tube.  Victim suddenly signaled them to stop, Tuber2 slowed down, and tuber2 fell off the tube.  They pulled Victim to the boat and discovered that he was injured.

I located Operator and asked him for his account of the events.  He stated that he had just begun pulling the two subjects on a two person tube that they had purchased earlier that day.  The water was choppy and the tube had passed in and out of the wake several times when Victim signaled for the boat to stop.  Tuber2 stated that he didn’t know initially that anything was wrong; Victim hadn’t been ejected from the tube so he was surprised to find he was injured.  

I asked operator if he had had any alcohol that day, he stated he had not, the only drink he had that day was a cup of coffee that morning.  I asked operator how long he had been operating boats and he said since he was 11 years old and felt very comfortable operating the families boat, ME 9993J, a 17 foot Crestliner with a 90 horsepower Mercury engine.  Before leaving the residence Operator reported to me that a family member had contacted him from the hospital to say that victim was feeling much better.

 I conducted a safety check of the vessel and found that it had all of the safety equipment required by State Law.  Victim was wearing a type III PFD that was in good serviceable condition at the time of injury.
Belgrade