Kirk
Well-Known Member
On Monday afternoon, 17 boats left single file in a bass tournament. Each boat was released with enough space to prevent a bottle neck or excessive wave action. Last weeks tournament was cancelled due to flooding and debris in water. We take safety seriously. However, we can't control the actions of others once they leave our sight.
One of the first to leave was a Bullet Bass boat carrying two brothers. When the brothers got down the river about 2 miles, they were traveling around 75 miles per hour. A "wake" boat was in the area that was putting out some extra large waves. They either didn't see the waves or didn't make any adjustments. Hitting a wave that size at 75 miles an hour is like jumping a ramp with a car.
The boat went airborne, tilted to one side and came crashing down into the water. Both brothers were ejected from the boat. The driver had some minor injuries, (well at least minor compared to his brother.) His passenger brother was not as fortunate. His body struck the boat hard and caused life threatening injuries. Thankfully, both were wearing their life jackets.
The passengers injuries included a ruptured spleen, three cracked vertebrae, a hole in his diaphragm, collapsed lung and numerous broken ribs. He was airlifted to Erlanger where he remains in Trauma ICU. He underwent surgery to remove his badly damaged spleen and repair the hole in his diaphragm. His driver brother was treated and released. (broken pelvis, broken ribs, badly bruised)
MORAL TO THIS STORY: SLOW DOWN. BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR OTHER VESSELS. NOTHING IS WORTH DYING FOR AT A BASS TOURNAMENT!!!
One of the first to leave was a Bullet Bass boat carrying two brothers. When the brothers got down the river about 2 miles, they were traveling around 75 miles per hour. A "wake" boat was in the area that was putting out some extra large waves. They either didn't see the waves or didn't make any adjustments. Hitting a wave that size at 75 miles an hour is like jumping a ramp with a car.
The boat went airborne, tilted to one side and came crashing down into the water. Both brothers were ejected from the boat. The driver had some minor injuries, (well at least minor compared to his brother.) His passenger brother was not as fortunate. His body struck the boat hard and caused life threatening injuries. Thankfully, both were wearing their life jackets.
The passengers injuries included a ruptured spleen, three cracked vertebrae, a hole in his diaphragm, collapsed lung and numerous broken ribs. He was airlifted to Erlanger where he remains in Trauma ICU. He underwent surgery to remove his badly damaged spleen and repair the hole in his diaphragm. His driver brother was treated and released. (broken pelvis, broken ribs, badly bruised)
MORAL TO THIS STORY: SLOW DOWN. BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR OTHER VESSELS. NOTHING IS WORTH DYING FOR AT A BASS TOURNAMENT!!!
