RedactedNarrative: Synopsis:
  On May 16 2018 at approximately 2030 hours a bass boat was attempting to dock to a houseboat in Cedar Canyon. The passenger went to the front (bow) of the boat and reached out with both hands to grab the houseboat. He fell into the water and presumably drowned. He was recovered by the National Park Service Dive Team the next day. 
  
  Initial Call:
  On May 16, 2018 at approximately 2100 hours I received a phone call from National Parks Service Dispatch requesting my assistance with a possible drowning and or person found floating in Cedar Canyon. I was told to contact National Park Service (NPS) Ranger. I was off duty at the time off the call.
  
  Response:
  I gathered my gear and met up with NPS Rangers at the Government dock. We discussed the call and decided to take  NPS vessel 2510. Ranger1 was the operator and Ranger2 was sitting to his right assisting. The information we received indicated that the reporting party was located in Cedar Canyon and they were sitting on the houseboat. We traveled up to Cedar Canyon from Bullfrog Marina where we met the reporting party in the canyon near the location given by dispatch. We arrived at approximately 2300 hours. 
  
  Investigation:
  Upon arrival we were met by two male individuals identified as Subject1 and Subject2. They informed us that the body was in the water on the portside of the houseboat, and that he belonged to their party. We asked the two men if he was floating, because that was the report we were given by dispatch. They informed us that they could not locate him in the water. I asked each of them to fill out a witness statement and asked if they witnessed the incident. They told me that they were fishing at that time and were not present when the incident occurred. Subject1 then informed us that his father was the only one who witnessed the incident.  He is 85 years old and has a pacemaker and was feeling weak so he was inside the houseboat in bed. Ranger2 accompanied me in to the bedroom where he was in bed and assisted me with the interview. I asked him if he could fill out a witness statement but he informed that he was too weak and not able to. I told him that I would write for him if he could tell me what happened he agreed and I took his statement.  
  
  According to Subject3 they had just finished eating dinner and Subject2 and Subject1 had decided to go fishing. After they had left Subject3 and the victim decided to go fishing as well. They were not having any luck so they decided to come back sooner than planned. Subject3, who was operating the bass boat (vessel #1), was having a difficult time docking to the left side (port) of the houseboat.  The victim went to the bow of the bass boat and reached out with both hands to catch the houseboat rail near the stern. When he grabbed the rail the bass boat moved away from the houseboat which caused him to fall overboard into the water. 
  
  Subject3 saw the victim fall into the water but did not hear him yell for help or see him try to swim. Subject3 knew that the victim could not swim and that he was not wearing a life jacket, so he dove in the water to try and help him. By the time Subject3 got to the victim all he could see was his forehead above the waterline. Subject3, not being a strong swimmer, was not able to grab the victim. Subject3 then swam to the houseboat where he tried to find a way on. He could not find a way on so he followed the rail along the stern then to the right side (starboard) until he reached the bow of the boat that was beached. He was able to board the house boat from the bow. Subject3 made his way back to the stern of the houseboat and was not able to see the victim. 
  
  After interviewing Subject3, Ranger1 began a medical checkup on him because of his medical conditions. (see Ranger1's supplemental)
  
  I gathered the victims wallet and medications for the medical examiner and placed them into evidence bags.
  
  CONCLUSION:
  Based on Subject3's statements and the last seen location of the victim, we conclude that he fell into the water on the portside of the houseboat about 40 feet from shore, and his depth was anywhere from 12 to 40 feet. Ranger2 marked off reference points while I took pictures and gathered registration information. We could not see the victim in the water nor could we use sonar. We had an 8 ft. hook that we tried using to feel for him, but we were unsuccessful. We determined that we would not be able to recover the victim until the morning and that we would also need the NPS dive team to locate and recover the victim. We informed the party that we were not able to recover the victim until morning and that they were free to leave whenever they were comfortable the next day. They informed us that they would be leaving at first light.
  
  The next morning at approximately 0700 hours I met up with the reporting party in Cedar Canyon to look for the victim after they moved their houseboat. When they left I visually searched at and around the area where the victim was last seen and did not find him. I called dispatch on the radio and confirmed that the dive team was necessary.
  
  NPR Ranger1 was coordinating the NPS dive team who were traveling up from Wahweap. They arrived at Halls Crossing at approximately 1100 hours (See dive team report).
  
  I met up with the medical examiner from San Juan County Sheriff's Office around the same time. Myself and the medical examiner boated to the scene of the incident and met up with Ranger1, and the dive team. Ranger1 and I showed the dive team where to look. The dive team was able to find the victim shortly after they entered the water. I assisted the recovery and with the medical examiner in preparing the victim for transport back to Halls Crossing.
  
  The victim was recovered and sent to San Juan County with the medical examiner for further investigation.
  
  There were no passengers on the houseboat at the time of the accident.
  
  I am waiting for insurance information for vessel #1.
  
  End of report
  