By Stephen Elliott, selliott@qconline.com

A Matherville man severely injured his foot after both he and another man were thrown from their boat just north of Port Byron on Tuesday.

Andrew T. Fratzke and his passenger, Jeffery Lee Buckles, Bettendorf, were rescued by fellow boaters shortly before 8 p.m. The two men were participating in a bass tournament on the Mississippi River, according to Illinois Department of Natural Resources Sgt. Robert Frazier.

Sgt. Frazier said Mr. Fratzke was taken by ambulance to Genesis Medical Center - Illini, Silvis, and then airlifted to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Mr. Fratzke was listed in good condition Wednesday afternoon.

According to Sgt. Frazier, Mr. Fratzke and Mr. Buckles were riding on a 20-foot Triton motorboat with a 200 horsepower motor. Sgt. Frazier said witnesses stated the two were traveling at a high rate of speed and hit the wake of another boat. Sgt. Frazier said Mr. Fratzke and Mr. Buckles' boat then became airborne.

"When it came back on the water, it came at an angle, which caused the passenger (Mr. Buckles) to be thrown over the driver (Mr. Fratzke) into the water. At some point in time -- I don't know if it hit (the wake) again -- Mr. Fratzke was ejected."

Port Byron Fire Chief Mike Poel said area boaters rescued the two by the time firefighters arrived on the scene. After the two men were rescued, the boat continued running in circles unmanned.

"With assistance from the LeClaire Fire Department, we tried to snag the boat with a rope and get something in the propeller to get the boat stopped," said Chief Poel. "The bass boat may have had a tank of 50 to 70 gallons of fuel.

"Several efforts were made. As we got closer and closer to shore, we finally got the boat to shallow water."

Chief Poel said a LeClaire firefighter eventually was able to turn off the boat's motor.

"I've seen this happen several times," Chief Poel said. "They just start doing doughnuts in the water."

Sgt. Frazier said the investigation is continuing. He said both men had their personal flotation devices on. He said no alcohol was involved in the accident.