Operator stated he had just bought the pwc and was trying it out. He left the boat ramp and proceeded towards the spillway at beech lake. once near the spillway, he said that the motor was trying to die and when he applied the throttle the bow of the vessel started to sink .  At this time,he "gunned it" and turned  to the right, the vessel listed to the right and he fell overboard.  He tried to reboard the vessel but it was sinking bow down and all that was visible above the water was the stern. A bystander on the bank contacted henderson co 911 and they dispatched rescue squad, a subjectct jumped in and pulled operator to shore. Both operator and subject were transported to henderson co. Hospital to be treated for hypothermia and operator  was also treated for a possibly sprained ankle.  
Once the vessel was retrieved from the water, i found a  crack in the hull on the keel just down from the rub rail on the bow(photos included). I observed water exiting the motor compartment from this crack once the vessel was placed on a trailer. It appears all through hull fittings are intact.  I asked operator if he struck anything and he stated "no". Witness also stated they hadn''t seen operator hit anything..

LEXINGTON                     