Ohio Angler Recovering From Boat Accident on Lake Okeechobee

January 05 , 2007

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. – Veteran angler Pat Hailstones of Cincinnati, Ohio, is recovering at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., after he and his co-angler partner Josh Noe of Albemarle, N.C., collided with the J and F Lock and Dam on Lake Okeechobee Thursday morning following the start of day-two competition in the Stren Series season opener.

Hailstones sustained facial lacerations and a broken hip as a result of the collision, which occurred Jan. 4 at approximately 10:45 a.m. He was later airlifted to St. Mary's where he underwent surgery. According to Hailstones, his hip will require surgery, but he will be making the trip back to Ohio before having the procedure done.

Noe avoided serious injury and is back on the water competing today.

“The water around the lock and dam was real skinny,” Hailstones said. “The water is only a couple of feet deep, and to get in there, you have to trim your motor up as you sit the boat down to avoid hitting the bottom. While I was doing that, I trimmed the motor a little too high, lost control and collided with the riprap around the lock.”

According to Hailstones, just before the boat impacted the riprap, Noe jumped overboard to escape injury.

“There was no place for me to go,” Hailstones said. “It all happened so fast, and I'm glad my partner was able to go fishing again today.”

After the collision, Hailstones called tournament director Chris Jones, who dispatched emergency crews.

“I feel pretty good under the circumstances,” said a good-spirited Hailstones.

The thoughts and prayers of the entire FLW Outdoors staff are with Hailstones, Noe and their families.

Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners' Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 238 events in 2007.

Wal-Mart and many of America's largest and most-respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world's leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Wal-Mart.com .

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.

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