life jackets worked? to keep the skinless corpse afloat?
I've seen that happen in The Keys, more than a few times.
Almost always it's because the idiots try to take a shortcut across the flats when the tide is not to their advantage. It's illegal too, carves up the turtle grass, which is protected IIRC. Sometimes you hit a loggerhead sponge, which can be the size of a big TV. They are super dense, will basically shatter your prop if you hit them at any speed.
But no jackets required in that situation (though you have to have them aboard). They get to do a walk of shame back to the boat in like a foot of water, with another foot of mud under that. All beat up with other boats pointing and laughing, taking pics.
Life's hard. It's harder if you're stupid.