RedactedNarrative: At approximately 0940 hours on 04 May 2016, I, a Wildlife Enforcement Officer (WEO) with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission was dispatched to Crosspoint boating access area on Shearon Harris Lake in reference to a boating accident which occurred near the spillway.  Upon my arrival at Crosspoint boating access area at approximately 0945 hours, I spoke with Operator1.
  
  According to Operator1, he and his passenger (Victim1) had just cruised into a small cove due North of the Harris spillway to fish. Victim1 was in the process of putting out the anchor on the port side of Vessel 1, North Carolina registration NC XXXX XX, when somehow Victim1 fell out of Vessel 1 and into the water. Operator1 stated it appeared as if the weight of the anchor pulled the victim out into the water, but he was unsure if Victim1 had any part of the anchor rope attached to him which may have caused him to be drug in.  Operator1 stated he threw a type IV floatation device into the water to Victim1 and then entered the water himself in an attempt to help Victim1, as he was aware Victim1 was unable to swim.  According to Operator1, Victim1 partially re-surfaced and took hold of the type IV floatation device with one hand while he (Operator1) attempted to get the Victim1's head above the water while also trying to swim back to Vessel 1.  Operator1 stated while moving back toward Vessel 1, Victim1 let go of the floatation device and submerged completely underwater.  Operator1 stated he attempted to dive down to locate Victim1, but was unable to see anything.  Operator1 stated he then swam back to Vessel 1, which had now drifted away from the site of the accident and against the restricted area buoys separating the Shearon Harris spillway from rest of the lake.  Operator1 stated once he was back on board Vessel 1, he moved Vessel 1 back to the accident site where the anchor rope was still located in the water and pulled the anchor up to see if Victim1 was attached to it.  However, Victim1 was still below the surface. Operator1 then tied the anchor line to Vessel 1 and called 911.
  
  Using sonar and dive teams, the victim's body was recovered at approximately 1450 hours in twenty-two (22) feet of water in close proximity to where Operator1 stated he last believed Victim1 entered the water.  
  
  The type of anchor used was a common mushroom type anchor weighing approximately twenty (20) pounds. There was a rope of nylon material attached to the anchor that was approximately thirty (30) feet in length.  It was indicated by Operator1 the nylon rope was not attached to Vessel 1 while the victim was lowering the anchor into the water.  There were US Coast Guard approved wearable personal floatation devices on board Vessel 1.  However, neither Victim1 nor Operator1 were properly wearing a personal floatation device at any time. There was no indication of drug or alcohol presence located on Vessel 1 and no indication drugs or alcohol contributed to the accident.