On 1/3/2013 at about 1:45 p.m., the victim had gone drift fishing on the Skagit River in an area known as Deadman's Slough, 1 - 1.5 miles east of the Sedro-Woolley public boat launch in Skagit county.  He was operating a 1996, 12' aluminum jon boat powered by a 9.9HP outboard motor.  He had been on the water about 1 hour before the incident occurred.  According to operator, as the boat was drifting it hit a submerged log flipping him out of the boat.  He clung to the boat and rode with it all the way down to a log jam.  When he hit the log jam, the boat flipped upside down and left him clinging to the log jam.   

Law enforcement located operator, removed him from the log jam, and transported him to the boat launch at the Wildcat Steelhead club.  According to officers operator was hypothermic and aid was on the scene.  operator was blue in the face and very red, starting to shake uncontrollably.  He was cut out of his wet clothing and transported to United General Hospital for treatment. 

operator was wearing an inflatable Type V PFD.  
 
He did not have the mandatory boater education card.   He is exempt under current state law.  He had completed a US Power Squadrons class.  
He indicated that he had over 500 hours of boating experience. 

Boat damage estimated at $3500.00. 

There was no indication of alcohol use. 

No Rules of the Road violation.
Sedro-Woolley