On wednesday october 25, 2023, at 10:30am, vessel #1 was traveling east and close to the montgomery county shoreline on badin lake.  The operator wanted to decrease his speed while looking for a potential fishing location.  

The operator was unable to decrease the speed of the vessel and turned to the left colliding with a tree on the shoreline.  The operator was thrown forward in the vessel where he struck the front bow compartment causing injury to his lower back, left leg, and left foot.  

This was the operator's second time on the lake with this vessel.  Operator of vessel #1 left old whitney boat access area in stanly county and traveled across badin lake to the montgomery county side.  Vessel #1 was cruising on badin lake and parallel near the montgomery county shoreline when he decided to decrease the speed of the vessel.  The operator is ambidextrous and was holding the tiller driven motor's throttle with his right hand.   In his attempt to slow down, the vessel wouldn't decrease its speed.  The vessel continued to maintain it's speed.  The operator then turned the vessel to the left and collided with a standing tree on the shoreline.  

For three hours, the operator blew a whistle for help in the international emergency sign of distress.   No one responded to his signaling for help.   He decided to use the oar and push away from the shoreline.  A light breeze was pushing the vessel towards the middle of the channel and in the direction of the old whitney boat access area.  Two kayakers and a pontoon realized the operator was in distress.  The pontoon towed the operator and his vessel back to the old whitney boat access area and called 911.  The operator was transported to the northeast medical center via ambulance.

Due to the operator being ambidextrous, i believe he was unintentionally turning the throttle to the full throttle position instead of in the direction of the low throttle position.   His unfamiliarity with the throttle caused him to speed up instead of slowing down resulting in the incident.  The operator was wearing a coast guard approved life jacket and the kill switch.  All other safety equipment was present on the vessel.  No charges are being filed.  Alcohol and drugs did not contribute to the incident.


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BADIN LAKE
BADIN                         