On 9/3/11 at approximately 5:30pm, a boating accident occurred on lake norman.  The vessel from which this accident occurred was approximately 200 feet from the dock of this residence.  The vessel was a 26 foot 2011 regal bowrider with a 300 hp inboard-outdrive motor.  The boat had a starboard side console, and was owned and being operated by an individual.  There were four other passengers onboard, and another individual who fell forward forcefully into the water while being towed on a wakeboard.

Operator was operating his boat at approximately 15 mph out in front of his residence when he saw his step daughter fall forward on her wakeboard.  She was attempting to wave at the occupants of the boat and lost control falling face first into the water.  She was wearing an o'brien type iii pfd that was coast guard approved.  As a result of this fall, she was unable to feel her legs and was immediately airlifted to presbyterian hospital in mecklenburg county.  No other damages or injuries were reported in this accident.

It was determined that when the victim fell, her spinal cord took a hard blow upon impact with the water.  She bent her spinal cord with enough force that she temporarily lost feeling in her legs.  Operator advised me the following day that her feeling was slowly coming back.  He stated that the doctors advised that she had sustained a "spinal stinger" that was only temporary and that she would make a full recovery.  No one was found to be at fault in this accident.

MOORESVILLE                   