RedactedNarrative: WHAT: Boating Accident 
  WHEN: 08/20/22 at approximately 2220 hours  
  WHERE: Lake Okeechobee/Ritta Island  
  DETAILS:      
  On 08/20/22, at approximately 2300 hours, FWC Officer, was on water patrol on Lake Okeechobee. I was informed by Officer; he received a phone call from a citizen, that they had struck an object in their airboat and cracked the hull. Officer provided me with the phone number of the vessel operator, later identified as OP1. 
  SUMMARY:         
  I made contact with OP1, who advised me he hit a log and cracked his hull down the middle. I asked OP1 where he was currently located, and he advised me by Ritta Island.  I asked OP1 if he was alligator hunting when he hit the log and he advised me yes. I asked OP1 if he was able to see the log and he advised me no, that the log was under the water.  
   I asked OP1 if he had any occupants on board and he advised me yes, three people. OP1 advised me that upon seeing the crack in the hull, he drove the airboat to a heavily vegetated area, to prevent the vessel from sinking. I asked OP1 to drop a pin at his location and send to me and he complied. Upon speaking with OP1, I contacted dispatch and provided them with the information. 
  CONCLUSION:       
   I responded to the pin OP1 provided me and I was able to get within 100 yards of his location but couldn’t get any closer due to the shallow depth. I advised OP1 that I would go back to the ramp and switch out the center console boat for a mud boat. I traveled back to the ramp and retrieved a mud boat.  
  I returned to OP1 and was able to dock alongside his vessel. OP1 provided me with the registration for the vessel and I provided the registration numbers to dispatch. I loaded OP1 and his passengers on my vessel and took them back to Torry Island Campground. I advised OP1 of several companies that would be able to retrieve his airboat. Upon dropping OP1 and his passengers off, I provided dispatch with the ending vessel hours.  
  Due to OP1 operating at night and the object being underwater, no citation will be issued. OP1 was utilizing lights to shine the water and had occupants as lookouts. No violations occurred. OP1 advised his vessel sustained approximately $4,000 in damages to the hull.
  