On October 25, 2023, I Game Warden received a call from GSP dispatch in reference to a boating incident that happened on Lake Lanier right above Browns Bridge. I was informed that one person was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville after an incident while Victim was wake surfing. 

GSP Dispatch provided me with a phone number of one of the people on the vessel at the time of the incident. I placed a phone call to the phone number provided and spoke with two people who informed me that everyone on the vessel was at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in the Emergency waiting room. I then responded to Northeast Georgia Medical Center to interview each person on the vessel and investigate the cause of the boating incident. Once I arrived at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, I went to the reception desk in the Emergency Room where I was then led to the room where Victim was being treated. 

I was met by the vessel operator and another person on board the vessel in Victim’s room. Victim was unable to speak very much as he was had a respiration mask and was still recovering. I proceeded to interview Operator and gather all the necessary information about him and the vessel that I would need for the incident report. I then proceeded to gather a written statement from Operator. I then interviewed everyone else on the vessel and gathered written statements from each person. I then spoke with the doctors and tried to gather any information that might help gather insight to the extent of Victim’s injuries. The medical staff was unsure of the Victim’s injuries at the time of my interview. I informed Operator and Victim that I would be following up with them in a few days so I would know the extent of the injuries. 
	
After interviewing and gathering written statements from everyone, the incident happened on a 2019 Correct Craft/Natique G25 Super Air which was traveling about 11 miles per hour per Operator. Victim had just got up on the surf board behind the vessel and when he got up, he fell backwards off of the surf board. Operator circled the boat around to pick up Victim and as they were pulling up to him they noticed that we was laying limp in the water with his head back. 

It was reported that PFD was what kept him afloat. One person jumped in the water to get Victim back on the vessel. Once Victim was on the vessel, it was reported that he was not breathing and that his face was starting to change colors.  There was only one person aboard the vessel that knew CPR. She started CPR on Victim and continued to do CPR all the way back to the dock while Operator drove the vessel. 

Victim threw up blood a few times on the vessel while receiving CPR. Once Operator arrived back at the dock, Victim was moved to the dock where CPR continued. A difvulator was brought to the dock and subject administered one shock to Victim. She then continued CPR until the EMTs arrived. Once the EMTs arrived, Victim was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. Once at the hospital, it was found that Victim had cracked ribs and a collapsed lung. A MRI and CT scan was performed on Victim. After this, Victim was diagnosed with a rare heart condition. The doctors believe that the heart condition is what attributed to the incident.

There is nothing further to report.

Lake Lanier
GAINESVILLE                   