RedactedNarrative: V1 being paddled in an eastern direction in the middle of the Santa Fe River when operator suffered a probable medical event which led him to fall out of V1 and drown. V1 was found capsized near location where operator was later recovered. Operator had been suffering from seizures which he had not sought treatment for and may have led to drowning event. PFD found on kayak was unserviceable and had a large tear in fabric exposing foam flotation material. See ISR060286 for detailed narrative and witness statements. 
  
  Tuesday, January 11, 2022, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) dispatch received a call at 12:31 pm from the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office in reference to a missing kayaker on the Santa Fe River in Ginnie Springs, Florida. An adult male was kayaking with three other friends who were all in separate kayaks and heading downstream from the Blue Springs/Ginnie Springs area. 
  
  Operator was observed paddling about thirty yards behind his friends. Subject1 stated that he heard a sound and looked back and observed Operator’s kayak overturned and Operator missing. Subject1 thought Operator may have jumped in the water to find his wedding ring or something he dropped in the water. Operator’s friends also checked the shoreline to see if he had gone ashore to urinate in the woods and did not find him. 
  
  Subject2 contacted 911 at 12:20 pm when they were unable to locate Operator. Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Rescue were dispatched to respond to Ginnie Springs. Deputies on scene began collecting statements from witnesses and Operator’s friends (see attached). Ofcs (FWC) launched their patrol vessel from the Highway 47 Ramp at 1:52 pm to aid in the search for Operator and found his kayak located at N 29° 50.528, W 082° 50.532. 
  
  At 4:43 pm Operator was recovered in 9 ½ feet of water face down at the bottom of the Santa Fe River (N 29° 50.3156 W 082° 42.2484) by IUCRR divers;
  
  Preliminary autopsy showed that Operator died from drowning. Friends onscene stated that Operator had consumed alcohol the prior evening. Two grams of marijuana was also found in Operator's personal affects. Toxicology and completed autopsy report will be included in ISR060286.
  