On the evening of 6/30/23, Sgt received a call of a vessel incident at warner's landing on the Satilla River in Brantley County. Game Wardens responded. It was discovered that Operator had fell off the PWC while operating and came up once, then went under and was not seen again. The wife and son were asked questions about what happened, with the son being an eye witness. 

Son said that Operator was across the river on the PWC, while Son was standing on the dock. He saw Operator hit the throttle and the PWC turned violently, throwing Operator off of it. Operator was not wearing a PFD, and began floating down river. Then Son realized Operator began to struggle to stay above water and jumped in after him. When Son came back up from diving in, he looked for Operator again just down river and was unable to locate him. He then swam to the disabled PWC, as the kill switch had been removed from Operator falling in, and climbed up on it and continued to look for Operator. He floated down river a ways until he came upon subject1, who towed him back to the dock at the residence, in which the family then called 911. Operator was wearing green shorts and a long sleeve shirt. 

After speaking with Subject1, he said that he had saw Operator putting the jet ski in at warner's landing and seemed intoxicated at the time, as he helped push the PWC off the ramp as Operator was on it. He also said that Son was acting like he was in shock, getting only a few words out of him about his father falling off and is missing in the river.

Sgt. also spoke with the wife who mentioned the same story as Son, as she was told by him, being the only eyewitness. She had mentioned that she had argued with Operator earlier about putting the PWC into the water and him operating it, as he had been drinking some that day. Come to find out later, she had mentioned to others that Operator had many more alcoholic drinks than described to Sgt at the time of the interview. She confirmed the outfit that Operator had on at the time as well. 

One vessel was used on the night of 6/30 to attempt to locate the individual, with no success. The search was called off at midnight, with the search again resuming at 0700 hours the next day. Game Wardens conducted the patrols, along with Brantley EMS, and Wayne County EMS. DNR aviation is coming this afternoon to assist.

On the morning of 7/2/23, the body was discovered about a quarter mile down river from where he was last seen going under the water. It was discovered by Wayne County EMA, and assisted by DNR vessels.
Satilla River
ATKINSON                      