I-TEAM: Report details moments before, after WaveRunner accident that killed UF Health Jacksonville CEO

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PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. – The News4Jax I-TEAM is piecing unneurotic what happened successful the moments earlier a personal watercraft accident that killed UF Health Jacksonville CEO Dr. Leon Haley Jr.

On Tuesday, the I-TEAM obtained a clang study that reveals what witnesses saw seconds earlier helium crashed into a jetty connected Saturday portion connected a Yamaha WaveRunner successful the Palm Beach Inlet and however the witnesses tried to assistance him instantly aft the accident. More photos obtained by the I-TEAM amusement the WaveRunner lying connected apical of the jetty aft the accident.

The I-TEAM besides learned Haley has household successful Palm Beach County.

In addition, the Palm Beach Police Department shared audio of a telephone telephone that the bureau had with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

“We’ve got aggregate units that are retired with them. He’s unconscious astatine this time, the jetskier,” the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office tin beryllium heard saying.

Tim Palmer said helium was sportfishing erstwhile with his person Keith Cojocar erstwhile helium saw the accident. He said helium was thinking: “This is not going to beryllium good.”

Palmer told authorities that Haley was retired of power connected the WaveRunner and crashed into the rocks, causing him to alert disconnected and onshore successful the water.

Palmer and Cojocar said Haley’s loved ones -- a pistillate and young lad -- were connected a antithetic watercraft. It’s unclear the narration betwixt Haley and the woman. Records amusement his sister lives adjacent successful Riviera Beach.

“She was distraught, hysterical,” Palmer said.

“My buddy helped the lad retired of the water,” Cojocar said. “I judge we tried to get his presumption of the concern distant due to the fact that we didn’t privation the lad to spot what was going connected there.”

The men said they, arsenic good arsenic the pistillate who was with Haley, jumped into the h2o to assistance him.

“She was close determination connected my enarthrosis each minute,” Cojocar said.

In audio of the telephone with the Palm Beach Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office tin beryllium heard saying: “We’ve got radical trying to clasp him supra the water, but the existent is strong.”

The study shows the men noticed Haley had a monolithic caput injury.

“I prayed for the antheral portion I was holding him,” Cojocar said.

First responders rushed Haley, 56, to a adjacent hospital, wherever helium died.

Records amusement the WaveRunner that Haley was operating was a rental. News4Jax reached retired to the rental company, but it did not privation to comment.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, this is inactive an active, ongoing investigation.

News4Jax was told ceremonial services are expected to beryllium successful Pennsylvania, where Haley is from.

Cojocar and Palmer said they anticipation Haley’s loved ones tin find peace.

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