On 4/7/12 around 3:30pm, Operator wanted to take his vessel out for a test run because he had not run his 15 horsepower johnson motor in a couple of years.  Operator asked occupant to ride along with him.  Occupant joined Operator as a passenger on Operator's boat.  As Operator was operting his boat on fontana lake near the camel hump on the mousey branch side, Operator had to make a bathroom stop.  As Operator slowed his vessel to an idle speed, Operator stood up to relieve himself.  During the time he was standing up on the boat, he somehow lost his balance and fell.  While Operator was falling, he reached to grab something to catch himself.  Operator was able to grab ahold of the throttle lever on the johnson motor.  By grabbing ahold of the throttle lever, Operator made the engine power up causing the boat to turn over throwing occupant overboard also.  While in the wter occupant swam to Operator to hold him above the water.  

After 30 to 40 mins of treading water, occupant was able to wave down a passing boater named. Good samaritan assisted in pulling occupant out of the water and was not able to pull Operator up in the boat by himself.  During the time Good samaritan stopping to help the overboard victims, Operator and occupant, another man heard all the yelling.  Good samaritan2 ran from his boat house and jumped in his boat to assist Good samaritan in pulling Operator into boat.  Once both Operator and occupant were in Good samaritan's boat, Good samaritan drove his boat to boat dock for ems to help with Operator.  All information was gathered by occupant once he had time to remember what happened and sober up.  At the scene of boat dock, occupant's bac level was a 0.16.  So i met up with occupant a couple of days later in haywood county.  At this time, no boat has been recovered and results from toxicology have not been released.  No other evidence has been recovered at this time.  Operator passed away.

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It has been noted on this report that no alcohol was involved.  However, that will be updated once toxicology information has been released to us.
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ROBBINSVILLE                  