RedactedNarrative: On Thursday August 27th 2020 I received a call from Kent com reference to a boating accident that occurred on Indian River Bay in the Area of the South Shore Marina. Lt. and Sgt. responded on MP Alpha and SrCpl. responded. Prior to NRP units arriving on scene a good Samaritan (W-1) along with a Tow Boat Captain (W-2) were able to get V-1 victim out of the water and began life saving measures. W-1 and W-2 transferred V-1 to the Coast Guard 24'' vessel where V-1 was transported to Coast Guard Station Indian River Inlet. EMS met the Coast Guard Vessel at the station and received V-1. Continuing life saving measures EMS transported V-1 to Beebe Hospital in Lewes. V-1 was pronounced deceased shortly after arriving at Beebe by DR. Hilton at 1713 hours. 
  
  V-1''s spouse and granddaughter were on V-1''s boat (20'' light blue duel console Key West DL 4805AM) at the time of the incident and remained with the boat until SrCpl. arrived on scene. At that time the boat was towed by Tow Boat US to Indian River Marina where Lt. picked up Wife and Granddaughter and transported both to Beebe Hospital. V-1''s boat was then towed to Gulls Way where it was put onto V-1''s trailer and then taken to the Sussex County NRP office and logged into evidence.
  
  I responded to Beebe Hospital where I met with Det. from DSP. Det. took statements from Wife and then stood by waiting for Granddaughter''s mother and father to arrive.
  
  While Det. was taking statements from V-1''s family I contacted Coast Guard Petty Officer to get his statements. Petty Officer advised me that the Coast Guard Station received the call of distress over channel 16 VHF. Petty Officer along with his crew responded to the area and located W-1''s boat (36'' Center Console) which had already had V-1 on board and were conducting CPR. Petty Officer stated that they maneuvered the Coast Guard boat to W-1''s boat and transferred V-1 onto the Coast Guard vessel. Petty Officer advised me that CPR was continued by the Coast Guard until EMS took over at the Coast Guard Station. 
  
  Wife statement included that her and V-1 took their granddaughter out on a boat ride from Gulls Way campground in Dagsboro on Pepper Creek and proceeded to check their crab pots. After checking the crab pots they decided that they would do some fishing and headed out onto Indian River Bay. The three of them began to fish in the area of South Shore Marina frequently referred to as the VFW Slough. While fishing there at some point V-1''s fishing line became entangled in the prop and lower unit of the outboard motor. 
  
  At this time V-1''s vessel was still drifting in the current and wind. V-1 decided to get in the water with his knife to try and free the prop of the fishing line. At some point while in the water V-1 cut his left hand and then attempted to climb the swim ladder to get back onto the boat still leaving the fishing line on the prop. 
  
  Wife attempted to help V-1 up the ladder and out of the water but V-1 was unable to get back into the boat and fell off the ladder back into the water. At that point the current began to pull V-1 away from the boat. Wife advised she threw a type IV PFD to V-1 and then called on the VHF radio for help. Wife refrained from jumping into the water due to her four year old granddaughter being on the boat. Wife stated that she tried to drive the boat to V-1 but was unable due to the fishing line still on the prop. After a short period the boat was pushed up into the marsh and Wife could see W-1 and W-2 getting V-1 into W-1''s boat from a distance. 
  
  I contacted W-2 who advised me that he responded to the scene wher...
  