During the afternoon of 26 April 2023, FWC Dispatch advised me, FWC of a boating accident near the mouth of Bayou Texar in Pensacola.  Dispatch provided a complainant POC and advised the operator of a vessel had been transported to West Florida Hospital.  I called the complainant, RP and he informed me that he observed a vessel, which had been engaged in recreational fishing near the old fishing pier adjacent to the 3 mile bridge, suddenly sink.  RP stated he observed the vessel occupant tread water for approximately 20 minutes before his company's work boat (COMPANY 1) was able to reach the subject and take him to land where Pensacola Fire Rescue responded.  RP told me the subject was taken away by ambulance. 
I arrived at the 17th St boat ramp around 1400 and located a partially sunken white motorboat bearing in shallow water next to the boat ramp.  I spoke with a COMPANY 1 vessel operator and learned that he and other crew members towed the subject vessel from somewhere near the end of the fishing pier adjacent to the 3 Mile Bridge to the boat ramp.  COMPANY 1 crew stated the vessel was upside down but they flipped it right side up and were able to bring it to rest in the shallow water.  Several coolers and a gas tank were also brought to the shoreline.   I ran the vessel registration through dispatch and it returned the subject whom was transported and admitted to the hospital.  Ofc advised OP1 that his vessel was now at the 17th St boat ramp and OP1 sent his wife and a friend to the boat ramp.  Ofc 1 and I entered the water and assisted with deflooding, and eventually recovering the vessel onto the trailer.  While in the water, the vessel's drain plug was found to be inserted into the outside of the keel, properly.  After the vessel was removed from the water and on the trailer, I examined the keel and bottom of the vessel for signs of a collision, puncture or source of leak but was unable to determine any damage or cause for loss of watertight integrity.  Ofc 1 and I assisted OP1 and friend load the boat and secure it onto the trailer and gather their belongings and they departed the scene. 
On the morning of 27 April 2023 I called  OP1 to interview him regarding the vessel sinking.  The conversation was very brief because I then learned he was still in the hospital and had not been released 26 April for the minor cuts and bruises as I had been told.  OP1 advised that he had pre-existing heart conditions, and the physical strain of treading water and attempting to climb one of the bridge pylons exasperated his physical health.  West Florida Hospital kept him for overnight observation and continued treatment.  OP1 told me he was fishing, and not at anchor.  He said he did not remember any waves swamping the vessel, and that when it started sinking, it sank quite suddenly.   From my vantage point at the boat ramp the prior day, the sea-state of the Bay was mild, with less than a 1 ft chop, and very light boat traffic.  OP1 also advised that he had only recently purchased the vessel and this was the first time he had ever put it in the water.  Nurses were in the room attending to OP1 and I advised him that I would continue the interview at another time that was more convenient.  I will follow up with OP1 at a later date to complete the interview and obtain information for this report. ; OP1,:I spoke with  OP1 on the morning of 27 April to inquire about the incident during the afternoon of 26 April 2023.  I learned that OP1 was never released from West Florida Hospital.  Initially, I was informed that he only suffered minor cuts and bruises during the incident.  Those injuries occurred because OP1 was trying to climb up a bridge piling. This morning, OP1 advised me that he has pre-existing medical conditions related to his heart and the strain of treading water when the vessel sank exasperated his poor health.  He is still a patient at the hospital as of 27 April 2023 at 1000. 
When I interviewed OP1 on 14 May, I learned he spent a total of 3 nights in hospital.  Medical staff had to place a stint in OP1 chest in order to open up arteries for proper blood flow due to the stress of swimming / treading water.  OP1 spoke with me face to face and walked with ease during this final interview.  End of report.
ESCAMBIA BAY
PENSACOLA                     