RedactedNarrative: On Saturday, May 25, 2019, I received a phone call from Lt., with Ky Fish and Wildlife, in regards to a possible drowning on the Rockcastle River.  Lt. was the first Fish and Wildlife officer to arrive on scene at 11:51 am.  The victim had already been removed from the water and transported to St. Joseph in London, KY by EMS.  Officer, with KY Fish and Wildlife, went directly to the hospital where he was able to speak with a couple of kayakers that were part of the group.  I arrived on scene at 12:25 pm. Lt. and KSO trooper were already on scene and began conducting interviews with possible witnesses.
  
  Approximately 8:30 am. a group of kayakers arrived at the Rockcastle River off of Lower River Road under the I75 bridge.  The group of kayakers had 10-15 people in their party including the victim.  According to several in the group they started launching in groups of 3-4.  The smaller groups would float down the river a little way and the next group would launch.  Victim was in the last group to launch around 9:15 am.
  
  According to subject, Victim was the last kayak of the last group to launch.  Subject stated that Victim started down the river and traveled approximately 200 yards.  Subject stated Victim pulled over to the north side of the river next to a sandbar.  Subject stated he assumed Victim was pulling over to use the restroom.  He decided to float on down the river to give him privacy.  He remembers looking at the time and it being 9:30 am.  He was going to give him a little time.  Subject stated at 9:38 he looked at the time and thought he had been gone a little long.  At that time he turned around to go check on Victim.  When he came back into eyesight of the sandbar Victim pulled over to there were 3 other individuals performing CPR on someone.  He paddled back and when he arrived he contacted more individuals in his group as to what was going on.  Three returned to the sandbar where Victim was.  The group continued alternating giving CPR until EMS arrived and took over.
  
  Three were part of the 3 man group that launched just after Victim.  Subject1 stated that they were going to do some fishing so they decided to wait and let the previous group float down the river before they launched.  Once they launched, the group floated approximately 200 yards and noticed a kayak was overturned next to a small sandbar.  Subject1 stated they noticed the kayak and paddled over to check on it and noticed a person floating in the water face down.  They paddled over and pulled Victim out of the water and began performing CPR.  Once the majority of the group had returned to the sandbar where Victim was, Subject1 and his group proceeded on down the river.
  
  Once EMS arrived the group assisted EMS with transported Victim to the road.  There EMS transported Victim to St. Joseph in London.  Victim was at St. Joseph for a short period and then air lifted to UK Healthcare in Lexington.  On Sunday Victim passed away.  The Fayette Coroner was notified.  The cause of death is anoxic brain injury due to drowning.  Coroner noted Victim had a history of seizures.
  
  While speaking with Subject, he stated that Victim did not appear to be having any problems.  He stated they had eaten breakfast earlier that morning.  Victim had not consumed any drugs or alcohol to his knowledge and was in a very happy mood the morning of the incident.  Subject stated that Victim had very little experience with the kayak he was operating.  Upon inspection of the kayak there appeared to be zero damage.  The vessel did not have a PFD on board nor was Victim wearing one at the time of the accident.
  
  Upon inspection of the accident site.  There was a very small sandbar toward the north side of the river.  Between the sandbar and the bank there was a small eddy of water approximately 2 feet deep.  The wind was calm and there was no current where Victim was found.
  
  