RedactedNarrative: This is a single vessel accident involving a personal watercraft on Lake Santeetlah with no property damage.  The accident occurred between Thunderbird Island and Cheoah Point. The 82 year old operator and his 14 year old passenger were cruising generally north toward Cheoah Point at a speed of 30 miles per hour. The vessel then came upon a wake from a boat that had passed.  The PWC hit the wake parallel causing it to rock side to side.  Before the operator could turn the PWC into the wake for a better approach angle, the startled passenger grabbed the back of the operator's type III PFD.  This caused the vessel operator to fall backwards.  As the operator and passenger fell from the PWC and into the water, the operator's left side made contact with the passenger's left knee.  The contact occurred under the operator's left arm where there was no padding by the flotation device.  The operator was in pain but was able to get back onto the vessel and recover his passenger.  The passenger was uninjured.  The operator took the vessel back to his residence on Lake Santeelah.  Graham County EMS was called to the scene.
  
  The operator was taken by ambulance to Murphy Medical Center.  It was concluded by the doctor that the operator had sustained 3 broken ribs (8,9 and 10) on his left side from the accident.  He was transported to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN for further observation and then was released. 
  
  Both the operator and passenger were wearing serviceable and properly fitted type III PFDs at the time of the accident.  There was no alcohol or drugs involved.  There are no charges in the accident and no further investigation is required.
  
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