Vessel was launched at approximately 6pm to go fishing with 3 people on board. At apx. 8:25pm the vessel began taking on water rapidly and sunk. The occupants stayed with the vessel for apx. an hour drifting and treading water while yelling, blowing and whistle and horn for help. A lakefront homeowner herd the calls for help and notified 911 at apx 9:30pm. The homeowner and a neighbor used their own vessel to rescue the boaters and brought them back to their dock. One of the occupants was transported to the hospital for back pain due to previous injury that was aggravated due to the incident. The other two occupants were uninjured. The vessel was removed from the water with the assistance of Clermont Police patrol vessel and the homeowners.  

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was on patrol in Lake County on 6/23/2023 when I was advised of a boating accident with injuries at approximately 9:50pm. It was reported that all occupants were already on land, and one was being transported to the hospital by ambulance for back pain. Lake County Sheriff’s Office had Officers on scene where the occupants ended up at a lakefront residence. I was at the nearby boat ramp where Clermont PD was launching their patrol vessel to respond by water. I responded by land and arrived on scene at approximately 9:56pm.  

Upon arrival all 3 occupants were on a residential dock. The female occupant was being treated by Lake County EMS for back pain. The vessel owner/operator was uninjured. The third and last occupant was also uninjured. 

The occupants stated they had launched the boat at approximately 6pm to go fishing. They had been out for several hours and while underway noticed that the deck of the boat had water accumulating. They attempted to bail the water out of the boat, but it quickly took on water and sunk. They estimated that the boat went down at around sunset, which was approximately 8:25pm. Once it was mostly submerged it capsized and the bottom of the bow stayed just above the water line. PAX 3 had his life jacket on with an attached whistle. They also found the hand held horn that was on board. They drifted with the vessel and treaded water for approximately and hour while yelling and blowing the whistle and horn. At approximately 9:30 a homeowner that lives in a lakefront property was alerted by their dog and they herd the screams for help in the lake. The homeowner and a neighbor got on their own vessel, after notifying 911, to rescue the boaters. They were able to get them on their boat and bring them back to their dock.  

Clermont PD towed the vessel to the dock where the homeowner got the vessel on their boat lift to get it out of the water. The vessels stern plug was installed and once removed the water drained. There was a crack in the fiberglass of the deck, but I cannot determine where the water entered the vessel from the hull.; VICTIM: Previously injured back aggravated due to situation
Lake Minneola
CLERMONT                      