RedactedNarrative: Vessel 1 Operator, an inexperienced boat operator was towing a knee boarder.  There were 8 occupants on the vessel, 5 adults and 3 children.   The skier fell off the knee board.  The Operator then turned the vessel to the left and circled around to pick up the skier, who was in the water wearing a PFD.  
  
  The Operator came up alongside of the skier, who swam to the left rear corner of the vessel where the swim ladder is located.  The Operator thought he had placed the vessel in neutral and left the motor running.  However, the skier stated that the motor was inadvertently placed in reverse rather than neutral as he attempted to board the vessel.  
  
  While the skier was at the left rear of the vessel attempting to get on the swim ladder, the vessel started backing towards him.  In an attempt to get away from the vessel, the skier tried to push off from the transom and in doing so, his feet went under the lower unit and propeller struck him in both the right and the left leg, pulling him under the vessel.  The Skier came back up on the left side of the boat near the stern and immediately called out for help.  One of the passengers jumped into the water and provided assistance.
  