RedactedNarrative: On May 6, 2022 at 7:20 A.M., La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Agents were notified of a boating incident in West Cove.  Agents were advised of a vessel making circles with no occupants.   Agents were advised that a body was found face down in the water 250 yards from the vessel.  
  
  Vessel 1 (TX 8751 JX, a 17' Explorer/remote steering) was being operated.  Vessel 1 was observed by witnesses making right  turn circles on the east side of Rabbit Island in West Cove in Calcasieu Lake.  Witnesses stated vessel 1's throttle was in the forward position 3/4 to full throttle.  Witnesses stated that as vessel 1 was circling, it was slowly making its way in a northern direction along the bank of Rabbtt Island.  Witnesses did not observe any occupants on board the vessel.  Witnesses then observed an object floating in the water south of Vessel 1.  
  
  Witnesses pulled alongside the object.  Witnesses then observed a body face down in the water.  Witnesses then called 911 at 7:10 A.M.   Cameron Parish Sheriff's Office responded and recovered the body who was later identified.  Wildlife Agents were able to disable Vessel 1 and tow it back to West Cove Boat launch.  Operator had prop strikes to right forearm and to forehead.  Operator was pronounced dead by the Cameron Parish Coroner.  Operator did not have a PFD on.  Kill switch was not worn.  Cameron Parish Coroner took possession of the body to examine.   
  
  For unknown reasons, Operator fell overboard or was ejected from Vessel 1 and the vessel began making sharp right turn circles.  Primary contributing factors is not having kill switch lanyard attached to person which would have cut the engine off as Operator exited the vessel and would have prevented the propeller from striking him.  Based off the toxicology report and Dr. medical opinion, drugs and alcohol could be secondary contributing factors.  Vessel 1 was released after investigation was complete.
  