A passenger in the fatal boating accident, was interviewed and is the only witness to this incident.  Operator, driver of the 15 ft Reelfoot Lake Boat and the only vessel involved in this incident, lost his life during this incident as described by Occupant, At the onset of the accident, Occupant was sitting directly in front of Operator, as the only passenger while the two were headed in from a fishing trip. They were cruising at the boat''s absolute lowest speed and ran up on a stump that was barely submerged beneath the water. According to Occupant, the ultra slow  careful speed caused the boat to "stick" (stop) on the stump instead of "jump over" and continue forward movement. Occupant said this slow careful speed was the main reason for the boat sinking. When the boat stopped it was tilted to the port side and when Occupant looked back Operator was slumped over the side of the boat.  With all of the weight of Operator on the port side of the boat, the boat began to take on water. At that point, Operator rolled over the boat side into the water and Occupant jumped into the water in an attempt to keep the boat from getting any more water inside the hull.  During the commotion, Operator managed to grab a cooler lid and Occupant was holding on to a type II PFD. Neither Operator or Occupant were wearing a PFD when the incident occurred. 

A Type !! PFD was used by Occupant to help support him while in the water.  With both passengers in the water, Occupant recalled that Operator was spinning around in a circle with the cooler lid and would not respond when his name was yelled by Occupant.  Occupant then noticed that Operator took a big breath and passed out. Occupant grabbed Operator and held him up using a stump for support. As far as Occupant knows, head never went underwater and Operator did not drown. Occupant supported Operator''s body on the closest stump with the suspenders worn by Operator. Occupant noticed at this point that Operator''s lips and face were a deep purple in color. The boat ultimately sank with only the bow showing while the two were in the waters of Half Moon Basin and being supported by only a stump.  Approximately 30 minutes after the incident described occurred,  someone headed in from a day of fishing in the area,  heard Occupant yelling for help. 

Good samaritan helped Occupant get into the boat and the both of them pulled Operator''s unconscious body into the boat.  Upon arrival at the nearest boat ramp near the TWRA Reelfoot Office,  EMT of the Lake Co. EMS met the parties involved.  EMT made the comment that, in his opinion,  the victim had a massive heartattack. Occupant noted that during the incident while in the water or during the boat ride to the boat ramp he never felt cold. When the incident was over and he was in his truck he started to feel cold and started to shiver. Occupant indicated that he refused to go to the hospital and Brent EMT insisted that he go. Occupant ultimately was admitted to the Union City Baptist Hospital and treated for hypothermia. Occupant had undergone 2 heart surgeries in the previous years and began to have "enzyme complications" when his heart started to slow down from the commotion of the incident. Occupant was in the hospital for two days before being released.  No blood EMT or autopsy was done on Operator. The Lake Co. Coronor indicated that on his report the cause of death was noted to be "pending".  The Medical Examiner for Lake Co indicated that the cause of death was Acute MI.
TIPTONVILLE                   