ON 02 JUNE 2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 3:15PM, AFTER TUBING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO, OPERATOR STATED THAT HE HAD DECIDED TO PULL THE TUBE PART OF THE WAY INTO THE BOAT IN ORDER TO MOVE TO A NEW LOCATION TO CONTINUE TUBING.  WHILE TRAVELING TO THE NEW LOCATION, THE PASSENGER WAS HOLDING ON TO THE ROPE.  OCCUPANT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP HIS GRASP ON THE ROPE DUE TO THE RESISTANCE FROM THE WATER AND WEIGHT OF THE TUBE AS THEY TRAVELED.  WHEN THE ROPE SLIPPED OUT OF HIS HANDS, IT CAUGHT OCCUPANT’S RIGHT LEG CAUSING IT TO SLAM INTO THE ENGINE COVER.  OCCUPANT SUFFERED FROM  A BROKEN LEG.

OPERATOR STATED THEY WERE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURED.

ACCORDING TO THE FATHER OF THE VICTIM, HIS SON WAS HOLDING THE SKI ROPE WHILE THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING LOCATIONS.  HE STATED HIS SON WAS HAVING A HARD TIME HOLDING THE ROOPE AND IT SLIPPED OUT OF HIS HANDS AND GOT TANGLED AROUND HIS RIGHT LEG.  THE FATHER OF THE VICIM STATED THAT HIS SON'S BROKEN LEG WAS THE RESULT OF IT BEING TANGLED IN TOW ROPE, NOT THE RESULT OF HITTING THE ENGINE COVER.

OCCUPANT WAS TRANSPORTED TO CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL TREATEMENT.
NEW HANOVER                   