RedactedNarrative: On 11/28/19 at approximately 1100 hrs (11:00 am), operator1 was fishing on the roanoke rapids lake in northampton county north carolina.  Operator1 was using a three gallon bucket filled with quick crete for an anchor.  This anchor was tied to the bow of the vessel.  When operator1 tried to lift the anchor and could not, he assumed it was stuck on the bottom of the lake.  
  
  Operator1 used the vessel in reverse gear at different angles to try and dislodge the anchor.  When the anchor did not dislodge, operator1 would use the vessel engine to go forward against the waves and reposition the vessel to pull in reverse gear at a different angle.  
  
  Gusting winds created white cap waves on the lake.  Operator1 stated that when he began pulling [north] in reverse and [perpendicular] to the waves, he noticed that the anchor line was caught on the bow of the vessel.  
  
  Due to the fact that operator1 was pulling in a reverse gear, when the anchor line went tight, it pulled the bow of the vessel low enough for the waves to come in the vessel.  The vessel filled with water before operator1 could react with the engine.  
  
  Once the vessel was flooded, operator1 left the vessel voluntarily in an attempt to swim to shore.  Operator1 was wearing his life jacket during this entire incident.  After a substantial amount of time in the water trying to swim to shore (approximately one hour), emergency services responded to operator1.  He was taken to halifax regional hospital and treated for “moderate hypothermia” (per charge nurse).
  
  
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