On 5/13/23 at approximately 1423 hours, a single vessel boating incident occurred on the Indian River just south of Turkey Creek. Three of the eight occupants left the unanchored vessel to swim. The vessel drifted away from the swimmers. One of the swimmers began struggling to swim while another attempted to keep him above water. When the vessel arrived, the subject had been submerged and was pulled onto the boat. CPR was administered and 911 was called. The vessel met Fire Rescue at a nearby dock. The subject was transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased by ER staff.
PRE-INCIDENT

	V1 was rented from Anchorage Boat Rentals by one person and was operated by another. V1 operated south on the Indian River after meeting up with another vessel rented from Anchorage Boat Rentals. V1 continued south until it passed Turkey Creek and stopped to wait on the other vessel. Three people jumped off V1 (unanchored) to swim. The three swam for approximately 5 minutes before Subject1 swam back to V1. V1 drifted away from Subject2 and Subject3 while its motor was turned off and they continued to swim.
 
INCIDENT

While V1 was unanchored and adrift, Subject2 began having issues treading water. Subject2 and Subject3 yelled to V1 for help. Operator was not immediately able to get V1’s motor started, but after a few minutes he was able to start the motor. Around the time V1 started, Subject2 sank underwater and was pulled back up to the surface by Subject3.

POST-INCIDENT
	
	V1 arrived to the area and pulled Subject3 and Subject2 into the boat. Subject2 was unresponsive when he was pulled into V1. CPR was started as V1 was operated to a private dock on Turkey Creek. First Responders met V1 at the dock and transported Subject2 to Holmes Regional Medical Center. Subject2 was pronounced deceased after arriving at the hospital. FWC docked V1 at Paradise Marina under direction of Anchorage Boat Rentals.

Subject2 was turned over to the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office for their investigation.

CONCLUSION

Based on the evidence and information gathered to date, I have concluded the incident was a result of an adult willingly swimming from an unanchored vessel without wearing a flotation device. 

It was reported that the victim had consumed multiple beers prior to the incident. The Medical Examiner’s toxicology report reflected Subject2 had cannabis as well alcohol in his system at the time of death. Being intoxicated could have influenced the decision to swim from the vessel without a flotation device, and to return before becoming in distress. Being intoxicated could have contributed to the rate and onset of the physiological effects that result from physical exertion and environmental exposure. The vessels were adrift and not being operated at the time of the incident. There was no evidence that would indicate the operation of the vessel led to the fatality. The fatality was a result of drowning. Attempts were made to resuscitate the victim and the incident was reported immediately following the incident.
	
	V1 lacked a sufficient number of the PFDs for the number of occupants at the time of the incident. The number of PFD’s onboard V1 did not contribute to the incident but is a safety requirement for all vessels being operated on the waters of the State. Anchorage Boat Rentals provided documentation that V1 only had six occupants on board when it was rented and left the marina. 

Prior to the incident, V1 met up with a Clearwater vessel that had been rented from the rental company shortly before V1 was rented. Subjects switched as occupants between the two vessels after leaving Anchorage Boat Rentals. V1 also picked up subject4 and Subject2 as passengers after leaving the rental company. 

It was not clearly established if Operator understood the exact number of PFDs required to be on the

Indian River
PALM BAY                      