RedactedNarrative: The operator and his friend were the sole occupants of the watercraft and they had just departed from the landing heading west/northwest into Sucker Bay of Leech Lake. The operator noticed water in the back of the boat and had been experiencing problems with a leaking drain plug. He retrieved another plug from the live well and lifted the motor. He then leaned over the transom of the watercraft to replace the suspected faulty plug. The friend/passenger had his back turned to the operator at this time, but heard the operator go into the water. The operator was not wearing a life jacket and the passenger threw him one along with a throwable flotation device. The passenger then repositioned the watercraft in an attempt to rescue the operator who was now unable to hold onto the PFD and throwable and was completely underwater. The passenger jumped into the water and held on to the operator and the boat in an attempt to keep the operator's head above water. The passenger began yelling for help while they drifted toward shore. Eventually, several people arrived on scene in two separate watercraft and assisted with getting them to shore and CPR was initiated. Law enforcement and EMS arrived on scene and performed life saving measures including an AED but no spontaneous signs of life were ever observed. Hospital medical control called the death. Estimated time the operator was in the water was 25 minutes. Alcohol was not a factor.