On June 24, 2023, I, Game Warden 1, was patrolling aboard my patrol vessel on the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nevada.  At approximately 2:02pm, a call regarding a medical incident at Big Bend State Park (Nevada) involving a Personal Watercraft (PWC) came over the radio from the Bullhead City dispatch.  I notified the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) dispatch that I would be enroute. I activated my emergency lights and siren and proceeded south to Big Bend State Park.  While enroute, I was notified that Nevada State Park Rangers, Clark County Fire Department (CCFD), Community Ambulance and Bullhead City Police Department (BCPD) was already on scene tending to the individual, later identified as Operator, who was having medical issues.

As I arrived, Operator was being placed into the Ambulance and was transported to the Western Arizona Regional Medical Center (WARMC) located at 2735 Silver Creek Road, Bullhead City, Arizona 86442.  I did not see or speak with Operator and was told he was unresponsive.  I gathered information from family members and obtained written statements. 

I spoke with Operator's son, Passenger.  Passenger stated Operator was driving and he was the passenger.  They stopped the PWC and were floating downstream with the current when the PWC flipped over.  Passenger was able to reboard the PWC, but his father was unable to reboard and started panicking.  They continued to float down river and Operator continued to panic for a couple minutes, then stopped moving.  Good Samaritans came to help and brought Operator and Passenger to shore.  Nevada State Park Rangers and CCFD performed life saving measures and transferred Operator to Community Ambulance for transport to WARMC.
  
After obtaining statements, I photographed the PWC and spoke with Lt. 2 about the incident.  It was determined that I would seize the vessel due to the undetermined medical incident that may turn fatal.  After discussion with officers on scene, I towed the vessel to the nearest boat launch ramp (Big Bend State Park) and loaded it onto a trailer that was provided by the owner of the PWC, Malow's Jetski Rental Service, LLC located at 130 Long Avenue, Bullhead City, Arizona 86429.  A Nevada State Parks Ranger transported the trailer and PWC to the Bullhead City Police Department's Impound lot located at 1255 Marina Blvd., Bullhead City, Arizona 86429.  The PWC and trailer were held at the BCPD Impound lot due to logistical issues. 

I inspected the Personal Floatation Devices (PFD's) for both Operator and Passenger.  Both men were relatively large men with Operator's driver's license stating he was 5'-05” and 265lbs.  Passenger stated they were both wearing their PFD.  After inspecting the PFD's, I identified they were size Adult Universal.  Furthermore, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) label on the PFD's states they are for a User Weight of more than 90lbs, and for a Chest Size of 30”-52”.

Game 3 arrived at WARMC and obtained additional witness statements from family members who witnessed the incident from shore.  Game 3 contacted the attending physician.  Operator was now responsive and was diagnosed with Respiratory Failure and Hypoxia.  Medical staff stated Operator would be observed at least overnight.  Both Game Warden 3 and I cleared from the scene.

WARMC medical staff stated Operator was released from medical care late on June 25, 2023.
Colorado River
Laughlin                      