ON 2/5/09 AT 2245HRS, I WAS DISPATCHED TO APACHE LAKE REFERENCE A CAPSIZED BOAT/NEAR DROWNING. UPON ARRIVAL I CONTACTED A PASSENGER IN THE BOAT. PASSENGER TOLD ME THAT HE AND HIS COUSIN, (OPERATOR), WENT FISHING IN AN ORANGE 15' CANOE OWNED BY ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER. OPERATOR SAID IT HAD JUST GOTTEN DARK WHEN THEY PUT THE BOAT IN THE WATER, BUT WAS UNSURE OF THE TIME. HE SAID THEY WERE ON THE WATER FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, NEXT TO THE BUOYS IN FRONT OF THE NEW BOAT RAMP. PASSENGER SAID OPERATOR STOOD UP TO GET A FISHING POLE AND THE CANOE CAPSIZED PUTTING THEM BOTH IN THE WATER. PASSENGER SAID HE WAS WEARING A PFD BUT IT SLIPPED OFF WHEN HE HIT THE WATER. OPERATOR WAS NOT WEARING A PFD. THEY BOTH SWAM TO A BUOY AND STAYED AFLOAT HOLDING ON TO IT UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. PASSENGER SAID HE WAS NOT INJURED AND WAS ONLY SUFFERING FROM SLIGHT HYPOTHERMIA. HIS MOTHER REFUSED ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR HIM. AFTER OPERATOR WAS SAFELY ON-SHORE HE BEGAN HAVING SEIZURES. OPERATOR WAS TREATED ON SCENE BY EMS AND TRANSPORTED VIA AIR AMBULANCE TO SCOTTSDALE/OSBORNE MEDICAL CENTER. OPERATOR'S MOTHER SAID THAT OPERATOR HAS HAD SEIZURES IN THE PAST. OPERATOR WAS ALSO HYPOTHERMIC AT THE TIME. APACHE LAKE DOCK WORKERS TOWED THE CANOE BACK TO SHORE. THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PFDS FLOATING IN THE WATER. I EXAMINED THE BOAT AND FOUND THAT IT LACKED REGIDITY TO KEEP IT STABLE IN THE WATER. WOOD TRIM, MEANT TO KEEP THE SHAPE OF THE CANOE WAS ROTTED AND BROKEN. METAL SUPPORT BARS WERE BENT. NOTHING FURTHER.
TORTILLA FLAT                 