RedactedNarrative: Unit 1 south bound on wide part of the river and struck a cypress knee at the tree line on the port/ right side and then struck a low hanging branch that tore off the bimini top.  
  
  The boat then struck a cypress tree causing severe damage to the right side of the boat from the bow down the side of the boat.  The center console was broken free and laying down in the boat with the operator lying in the floor partially under the console.  
  
  The operator was pronounced dead at the scene.  The bimini top was recovered at the scene by dnr.  The boat was stored at the SCDOT/ SCHP yard.  The boat trailer was located at Bucksport Marine and the HCFD cut off a lock off the trailer for us so we could use it to retrieve and store the boat.