RedactedNarrative: On june 15, 2014 around 3:00pm, operator, was attempting to anchor and tie off his 24 foot colbalt inboard outdrive vessel to another pontoon boat at the sandbar area north of buster boyd bridge on lake wylie, catawba river. His boating party consisted of 9 people total with 3 of them being children under the age of 13 wearing uscg approved pfds. 
  
  Operator began having trouble moving his vessel into position due to the water being choppy. Another member of his party jumped off the bow, front of the vessel, in waist deep water to help maneuver the vessel alongside a pontoon boat. While subject1 was tying of the bow, front of the boat and placing a fender between the vessels, subject2 jumped off the aft, back of the cobalt vessel to assist without operator's knowledge. 
  
  Operator stated that the vessel was in neutral at all times and was certain of that. He did state that he leaned over the side to observe subject1 tie off the bow of the vessel. This is when witness accounts of what happened stated that they heard subject2 yell out for help. Subject2 was found at the aft, back of the boat, with his foot almost severed from the left leg and another open cut just a few inches above that. 
  
  Subject2 was transported to carolina medical center, main, for treatment for an open joint fracture to the left foot and open leg fracture to the left leg. 
  
  The vessel was in compliance with coast guard regulations and safety equipment. No alcohol or impairing substance was known to be a factor. It is my opinion that the operator while leaning over the side of the vessel bumped the shifter in gear and the outdrive struck Subject2's left leg and foot with the propeller. The operator did not know that Subject2 had jumped out of the boat, and turned the motor off as soon as he heard him yell out. The wounds Subject2 received are consistent with a propeller strike under power. Subject2 had never been on a vessel nor had he had knowledge of the mechanics of them and thought he was just going to help when he jumped into the water behind a running motor. With the known evidence, no charges were made in this boating incident.