RedactedNarrative: On July 28, 2019, at approximately 4:00 P.M., I, Officer of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, was dispatched to a call for a water rescue near Flat Island on the Rhode River in Edgewater, MD by DNR communications. An individual went airborne while tubing and requires medical assistance. The Anne Arundel County Fire Department was en route to the location.
  
      I arrived at the island at approximately 4:20 P.M. Anne Arundel County Fire units, were already on scene at this time, rendering first aid to the victim. Operator was operating his 1988 17’ Boston Whaler bearing Maryland registration “7878 CF”, while towing a tube that Victim was occupying. Victim was undergoing examination by the paramedics on scene. When Victim regained consciousness, he had little feeling in his fingers and toes and could barely move them. Anne Arundel County Fire advised that they would call in MSP Trooper 2 to airlift Victim to Baltimore Shock Trauma as Victim may have sustained a minor spinal injury.
  
      I created a safety zone for incoming Trooper 2 by clearing all other recreational boats from the island and outside of the landing zone. Once Trooper 2 had arrived on the scene, Victim was then airlifted out of the area and en route to Shock Trauma. I then met with Operator and transported him back to Smithsonian Environmental Research Center dock for further questioning.
  
      Operator said that at around 3:45 P.M. that afternoon, the group had been pulling Victim on a tube heading southeast on the Rhode River past Flat Island. Operator was operating, and he had three children on board acting as observers. All children were said to be around and under the age of 10 years old. He said that there had been a few other boats in the area tubing as well and generated some wakes on the river. Victim’s tube had hit one of the wakes in a way that launched him airborne, Victim then crashed down into another wake on the water. Operator said he was traveling at speeds between 25-28 knots at the time. Operator looked back for Victim and noticed he was floating face up and not moving. He rushed over to see if he was injured, to which he saw Victim unconscious. Operator retrieved Victim and carefully laid him down on a flat surface of his Boston Whaler face up. Victim regained consciousness. Operator checked Victim for breathing and feeling in his extremities. Victim had no strength in his arms and couldn’t move his legs. Operator took Victim back to Flat Island at a slow speed to secure Victim on a more stable surface. Victim refused medical assistance but Operator felt the need to call 9-1-1 due to the severity of his injuries.
  
      I asked Operator if he or Victim been drinking at the time. Operator said that the two had approximately 2-3 beers all day starting at 11:00 A.M. Operator did not show any signs of intoxication when I initially spoke to him. Operator and Victim were the only adults aboard the vessel at the time, as the other 3 passengers were children. Operator did not possess a boater safety card nor did he have the vessel registration on board his vessel. I subsequently issued two citations and a warning to Operator. The citations were for operating a vessel while towing Victim on a tube with observers less than 12 years old, and not possessing a boater safety certificate. The warning was for not having his vessel registration in possession.
  
      Officer of the Maryland Natural Resources Police was sent to Shock Trauma in Baltimore to check on Victim’s status and obtain a witness/victim statement. The final disposition of Victim’s injuries is not yet determined.
  
  Most events occurred in Anne Arundel County, MD.
  
  This case is closed. Further information may be submitted via supplemental report.
  