RedactedNarrative: On july 1, 2017 at 13:15, (vessel #1) was involved in a pwc incident near the spillway close to the mcdowell/burke county line on lake james.   Operator1 stated in his mb 4.1 that his pwc was struck by another vessel throwing him into the water and then being struck in his lower back by the vessel that made contact with his pwc.   
  
  Operator1 stated that the operator of the other vessel then left the scene.  A nearby vessel assisted Operator1 getting him and his pwc to shore.  Wildlife enforcement and ems were then notified.  Operator1 was assisted by ems once back on shore.  He refused medical treatment.  
  
  Operator1 was transported to mcdowell hospital by a friend who was also the owner of the pwc.  Myself and four other wildlife officers met Operator1 at 14:15 at mcdowell hospital where we then questioned him about the incident and inspected the pwc with the owner.  
  
  V1 owner stated that there was no visible damage to the pwc.  After my investigation, i found no evidence to suggest Operator1 nor the pwc he was operating came in contact with another vessel.  The lack of transfer marks or damage to the pwc suggested it was not struck by another vessel.  Operator1's injuries did not support his claims of being struck in the back by another vessel.  
  
  In my opinion Operator1 was operating the pwc alone and sustained his injuries from making contact with the water after throwing himself off the pwc.  After later inspection of the pwc, V1 owner stated the pwc motor was filled with water suggesting the pwc Operator1 was operating did in fact capsize.  Operator1 was wearing a pfd.  There was no damage to his pfd or any other equipment involved in the incident.
  
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