ON FEBRUARY 19, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 17:20, OPERATOR WAS OPERATING HIS YAMAHA GPX 1200 PWC (VESSEL 1) IN GREENS CREEK.  WHILE TRAVELING EAST TOWARDS ORIENTAL BOATING ACESS AREA, VESSEL ONE STRUCK AN UNIDENTIFIABLE SUBMERGED OBJECT.  THIS CAUSED THE PWC TO SHUT OFF AND BEGIN TAKING ON WATER AND PARTIALLY SUBMERGING THE VESSEL. OPERATOR TIED HIMSELF OFF TO THE PWC AND BEGAN TO SWIM TO SHORE (ABOUT 15 YARDS).  HE WAS WEARING HIS LIFE JACKET AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.  ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR, LITTLE TO NO WIND, AND CALM WATER CONDITIONS.  RESIDENTS FROM A NEARBY HOME HEARD AN INDIVIDUAL SCREAMING FOR HELP.  WITNESS 2 AND HIS WIFE USED THEIR PERSONAL BOAT TO RESCUE OPERATOR.  ONCE RESCUED, HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO ORIENTAL BOATING ACESS AREA.  HE WAS EVALUATED FOR ANY INJURIES BY PAMLICO COUNTY EMS.  NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.  AFTER BEING EVALUATED, OFFICER 1 SPOKE WITH OPERATOR AND HAD HIM COMPLETE A MB 4.1.  ALL INFORMATION WAS PASSED ALONG TO OFFICER 2.  OFFICER 2 MET WITH OPERATOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND SURVEYED THE SCENE AND GATHERED INFORMATION REGARDING THE INCIDENT. 

A FACTOR THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT WAS OPERATOR INATTENTION.  NO OBJECT WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE OBJECT THAT STRUCK THE PWC.  DAMAGES TO THE VESSEL INCLUDE MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HULL AND WATER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE.  ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR THE PWC IS $2800.00.


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GREENS CREEK
ORIENTAL                      