Unit 1 left Georgetown to check on the Operator’s sailboat he had recently purchased and had moored in Hobcaw creek in Charleston. The passenger had been drinking along the way. Since it was cool weather both of them had on their PFDs. The passenger had gotten a little loud and boisterous from drinking and was moving all around on the boat and took off his PFD.  The Operator told his to put it back on and to Shut up and sit down because they were almost to the sailboat and he was about to get back on plane. 

The passenger then jumped off the port side into the water. The operator turned around and pulled along side the passenger. The passenger held onto the boat fender on the port side and scooted his way back towards the transom and locked his arms over the top of the gunwale. The operator grabbed the passenger and pulled him into the boat. 

The passenger was mumbling when he reentered the boat and laid in the bottom of the boat. The operator got up on plane and as he approached his sailboat he asked the passenger to secure a line to the sailboat. The passenger didn’t respond and the operator went to the passenger and shook him and called to him. When he didn’t respond the operator knew something was wrong and he called 911 and DNR. EMS responded and pronounced the passenger dead at the scene.

Coroner ruled his death having to do with arteriosclerotic coronary disease. There was also psilocybin hallucinogenic mushrooms present in his tox and his BAC was .245.

Wando River