RedactedNarrative: On Sunday, July 5, 2020, I, New Mexico Marine Enforcement Officer (MEO) was operating my patrol vessel on Caballo Lake in Sierra County.  At approximately 1135 hours I received a call from dispatch of a green and white vessel with a possibly unresponsive female in the water about 1/4 mile from the ramp.  I was nearby directly west of the vessel.  i spotted them waving a skier down flag at me as I started moving that direction.  I approached the vessel and observed three teenagers holding the victim who appeared unresponsive in the water, keeping the victim's head above water on the back of the operator's vessel.
  
  The operator was in the vessel.  As I approached the starboard side, I handed him my port side rope to keep the vessels together.  I went on board to assist the three teenagers get the victim on board.  We were having trouble moving the victim due to her weight, at which time I called Ranger via cell phone for assistance.  The teenagers and I moved her to the dive door of my patrol vessel, where I opened it and we continued struggling to get the victim on the vessel because of the weight.  Once we were able to get the victim on board, Subject1 immediately started compressions, at which time Ranger1 arrived from a bystander's vessel.  I immediately drove my patrol vessel to the dock with Ranger1, Subject1, subject2 and the victim on board.  We arrived at the dock at approximately 1150 hours.
  
  I tied my patrol vessel's port side to the dock as Ranger1 continued CPR.  Park Manager was arriving at the dock with an AED when we approached.  At that time, I could hear the sirens from the ambulance as Ranger1 was administering the AED.  I ran up the boat ramp to direct EMS to the side of the ramp that we were on.  I assisted the two EMS personnel bring gear and the gurney down to the boat.  I stood by as to help EMS as needed.  After additional EMS units arrived, Ranger1 and I started our interviews and gathering information.
  
  We interviewed the husband of the victim (Operator) first. Operator stated that the victim was trying to get on the tube from their boat.  When she got into the water, she began to have trouble getting on the tube and went to get back in the boat.  He states that the victim's life jacket was floating up to her head and causing panic, so she asked them to take it off. She was unable to get back in the vessel. She was holding onto the back of the boat as they were struggling to get her on board, he states that she appeared to pass out without verbalizing it and that's when they called 911. 
  
  After we finished interviewing Operator, the EMS crews stopped performing lifesaving efforts on the victim.  Cause of death is to be determined due to possible underlying health conditions.  We gave the family approximately 20 minutes for grievance.  After that we interviewed Subject3 and Subject1. 
  
  Subject3 and Subject1 stated that the victim went into the water to attempt to get on the tube.  She had trouble getting on the tube, began to panic and came back to the back of the boat.  Subject3 stated that, at that time, the victim said that she was having trouble breathing.  They struggled trying to get her back on the boat.  The victim asked them to remove her life jacket because it was floating up to her head at that time; they removed it.  Subject3 said that the victim had asthma and they gave her three puffs from her inhaler, but it did not help.  She appeared to pass out/go unresponsive as Operator (husband) was talking to her trying to keep her alert.  Subject3 and Subject1 stated at that time they called 911.  They continued struggling to get the victim on the vessel and attempted CPR in the water while maintaining her head above water.  Subject1 said he grabbed her hair braid and used it to keep her head out of the water while they continued trying to get her on board the vessel, at which time I arrived at the call quickly.
  
  After the Interview was complete, the Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) arrived on scene.  Ranger1 and I assisted the OMI investigator as needed.  Ranger1 assisted Operator with loading this boat upon Operator’s request.  At approximately 1400 I took my patrol vessel out of the water to go to the shop and sanitize the deck from the incident.  At that time I left the boat ramp where Ranger1, Manager and Park Superintendent stayed with OMI at the boat ramp waiting for a representative from Kirkos Funeral Home from Truth or Consequences to take possession of and transport the body to the funeral home. 
  
  No recording due to being uncertified.
  