RedactedNarrative: At approximately 1000 on march 10, 2021 vessel 1 operator was operating his vessel approximately 25 feet southeast of buckhorn dam at the northeast base on the cape fear river. According to a witness, vessel 1 operator was attempting to catch bait fish with a cast net when the net became entangled in trees. 
  
  As the witness attempted to free the net from the shoreline, the stern of vessel 1 swung toward the low-head dam and became too unstable for vessel 1 operator to stand in. 
  
  Witness stated vessel 1 operator sat down in the vessel and attempted to put a personal flotation device on, but struggled to get it on and appeared to have it on inside out and was unable to fasten it. The witness was unable to assist with getting the vessel out of the strong current and the vessel was only equipped with a small trolling motor. 
  
  As vessel 1 moved closer to the boil of the low-head dam, vessel 1 operator was ejected from the unstable vessel. Both vessel 1 and vessel 1 operator were pulled into the rolling boil of the dam. The vessel and victim were seen by the witness as they left the boil of the dam and began floating downstream.
  
  Emergency crews arrived on scene and conducted air, land, and water search measures, but were unable to locate the victim before dark. The search was concluded until march 11, 2021 at which point the victim was located approximately 1/2 mile downstream of bukchorn dam along the northeastern shore of the river. Vessel 1 was located approximately 880 feet downstream of the victim on the northeastern shore of the river.
  
  There was no indication of any drug or alcohol presence on vessel 1 and no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident. Although the victim attempted to place a personal floatation device on, when he was located, he did not have a personal floatation device on his body.
  