Media coverage of 2000 – 2004 recreational boat propeller accidents.

• 14 Dec 2004 Daily Telegraph (Australia) “Legs Sliced by Boat Propeller” reports a 15 year old boy from Sydney named A. Berbeek-Martin caught his feet in the propeller of a dinghy while climbing into the back on Thursday afternoon 9 December. His feet were caught in the propeller off Bundeena. He was airlifted to St. George Hospital. “It will be three months before the Bundeena teenager can walk again.”
• 5 Nov 2004 Deutsche Press-Agentur “Six Feared Dead After Danube Boating Accident” reports a motorboat (a converted tug) hit a barge Thursday 4 November at Vienna on the Danube River near the Reichsbruecke Bridge. Two bodies have been found (one “mutilated by the barge’s propeller), four are thought to be still missing and are feared dead.
• 30 August 2004 Associated Press “Boy Killed by Propeller During Boat Rescue Attempt” reports from Cleveland Ohio a 13 year old boy, A. White, was killed in an attempted rescue when a boater found him and a friend drifting on a log asking to be rescued the afternoon of Friday 27 August on Lake Erie. The boater, operating a 23 foot Sea Ray, told the boy to “watch out for the propeller”, “he didn’t”. The prop caught the boys leg and pulled him under. He was rescued the second time by the Coast Guard, revived, but was dead on arrival at Metro Health Medical Center.
• 25 Aug 2004 Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Ltd (U.K.) “Girl Hurt in Boat Horror; Lifeguards Suspended After Horror Near Beach” reports A schoolgirl was struck by the propeller of a rescue boat and seriously injured. Two lifeguards were suspended. MIAB (the U.K. Coast Guard’s investigative group) reports a 10 year old girl with severe stomach injuries was rushed to a hospital on Monday after the accident in Southport, just off the shore of Ainsdale beach around 3:30pm. One lifeguard may have been the girls older sister. The young girl fell overboard and was tangled in the propeller not far off the beach near Pontins, off the A565 Southport Coast Road. “She suffered severe lacerations to her abdomen and is believed to have sustained internal damage”. The child was airlifted to Preston Royal Infirmary. A followup report in the same papers August 26th, indicated the inflatable rescue boat was only to be used for rescues.
• 12 August 2004 Press Democrat (California) “Propeller Injury Found on Sea Lion” reports a Sea Lion observed for several days in the Petaluma River was found dead and injured by a propeller. A necropsy will be performed to determine if the 2 to 3 year old died from the propeller strike or an illness.
• Summer 2004 Accident Date – 16 July 2009 The Times (Tigard /Tualatin / Sherwood Oregon) “Motivated to Overcome” reports J.D. Kerekanich, recent (2009) graduate of Sherwood High School was a standout football and track and field athlete, especially during his senior year. Five years ago during the summer of 2004 while on a family trip to Pennsylvania, he was wake boarding. He “got pulled underneath the boat. The boat’s propeller sliced into his left leg three times, severing his Achilles tendon.” For the next four days doctors were uncertain if they would be able to save his leg. They did and he was on crutches for 5 or 6 months. He gained 50 pounds while on crutches and struggled getting back into shape. Through participation in several sports he worked himself back into shape. Kerekanich now plans to be a walk on football player at Oregon State this fall.
• 26 July 2004 The Times “Speedboat Kills Swimmer at Family Reunion” reports on an accident in Malaysia where Joanna Stillwell, a 23 year old female British backpacker, was making a round the world trip to join her family on the Malaysian island of Pulau Redang. About 8:30 am Saturday July 24th, she was in the water near a beach side hotel. Police report she may have been “about 50ft outside the safety zone reserved for snorkelers and swimmers after seeing a small turtle and swimming after it.” A small boat thought to be a passenger ferry cut her torso and legs as she surfaced. The boat driver pulled her aboard, but she was dead by the time her parents arrived.
• 23 July 2004 CDNN (Cyber Diver) “Instructor Loses Leg, Student Almost Loses Arm After Captain Andy’s ‘Spirit of Kauai’ Runs Over Scuba Divers”reports from Lihue, Kuaai Hawaii that a local dive instructor and a first time diver from Arizona were injured by propellers yesterday (Tuesday afternoon 22 July) while making a shallow diver in a bay near the west end of Na Pali Coast. The first time diver was having trouble with his buoyancy compensator and had drifted up to near the surface. The instructor went up to help him (neither of them breaking the surface). The instructor saw the oncoming boat and tried to push the student down. The boat that struck them rushed them to a nearby cruise ship, Pride of Aloha, where they were treated by the ship’s doctor, then flown by a Naval helicopter to Lihue where the instructors leg was amputated above the knee. The student’s arm was severely lacerated, but he has feeling in his right hand and can move his fingers. The student’s son was also diving with them at the time. They were taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
• 10 July 2004 Reno Gazette-Journal (Nevada) “Lake Tahoe Boating Crash Remains Under Investigation” reports H. Minasian, a 15 year old teenage girl was struck by a propeller on Lake Tahoe on July 4th about 4:15pm about 11.5 miles offshore of Incline Village Beach. She and her cousin were on a PWC driven by her cousin’s mother when it turned in front of a 27 foot boat and was stuck. Early reports indicate both vessels left a congested area and were rapidly moving to open water. The PWC was to the right of the boat, made a left turn and was hit by the bow of the boat. The young girl lost a lot of blood, had lacerations to her liver and kidney, cannot walk, and faces months of recovery at her home in Los Angeles.
• 8 July 04 The Hooksett Banner (New Hampshire) “Auburn Girl Dies in Boat Accident” reports Samantha Smith, an 8 year old girl from Auburn, was on vacation with her family on Lake Wicwas in Meridith on July 3rd. She fell from an 18 foot boat towing a skier when the boat turned, and was hit by the propeller. She was taken to Lakes Region General Hospital and died of injuries including severe abdominal lacerations.
• 6 May 2004 Fiji Times (Suva – Fiji Islands) “Man Dies at Sea” reports Isoa Maravou originally from the village of Nacavandi was traveling to the Post Office in Qarani with the owner of a fiberglass boat. They arrived in Qarani. He asked to ride along to Nawaikama village, then be dropped off at Qarani and their way back. He is thought to have fallen out on the way back to Qarani and was hit by the propeller. The boat pilot felt a bump, then found Mr. Maravou had fallen in. They searched a while, then got help from a nearby tourist boat. His body was found and kept for viewing by a pathologist from Suva. With no refrigeration available, the body rapidly deteriorated and caused problems at the facility. The Labor Minister said boat operators in rural areas “were not covered by Occupational Health and Safety Regulations”.
• May 2004 accident – Dance Marathon “Jack’s Story” reports a May 2004 accident in which a 4 year old boy named Jack fell from a pontoon boat and was struck by the propeller. His mother struggled bringing him to the surface, and he was airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in critical condition. In a coma for a few weeks and several surgeries later he is now six years old.
• 30 Apr 2004 Daily Post (Liverpool England) “Power Boat Racer Tells of High-Speed Crash Escape” reports one of few actual propeller guard strikes (someone hit by a guard). Mel Pengelly, age 30 of Neston, was racing in the Thundercat series (small high powered, two man RIBs) off the Channel Islands of the coast of St. Peter Port yesterday (29 April 2004). His boat collided with another, he and his co-racer were thrown over 25 feet into the air. Mr. Pengelly recalls driving over the other boat, “the propeller guard struck the other racer’s head. I was holding the tiller at this point and could feel the impact.” The racer who was hit was taken to the hospital and told by doctors “He cannot race for at least five weeks.” (PGIC comment – he was probably wearing a helmet, but this is still amazing).
• 26 Apr 2004 Daily Telegraph (U.K.) “Boy Cut by Propeller” reports a 13 year old boy suffered “severe leg injuries” when his outrigger canoe hit a 6 meter aluminum boat 25 April near the ramp at Schultz Canal at Nudgee, a suburb of Brisbane. His leg was cut by the propeller of the aluminum boat.
• COMMERCIAL VESSEL- 3 March 2004 The Mirror (London England) “Ferry Propellers Kill Plunge Man” reports a 25 year old man was on the Shannon Ferries vessel in the estuary yesterday (2 March) going from Kerry to Clare. He fell in and was “swept under the boat’s propellers about 4:30pm. His brother saw him fall. The crew managed to recover his body, but was unable to revive him. His body was taken to Ennis General Hospital, then to Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for a post mortum examination.
• 2004 UK Accident – rotating shaft accident – 4 April 2011 Daily Post (UK) “Man Tells of Propeller Accident on North Wales Trip” reports John Beatty, a photographer, retelling the story of his 2004 propeller accident off North Wales while shooting photos near Bardsey Island. They pulled into Pwliheli Harbor, he was mopping the bilge, his sea jacket became caught in the rotating prop shaft, and it ripped off his left arm.
• UPDATE on a 2004 accident 11 May 2008 The Citizen (South Africa) “Para-Swimmer Breaks Record” reports Shireen Sapiro, a competitive swimmer, was water skiing in 2004 on the Vaal River when a speedboat ran over her, the propeller shattered her in the pelvis and left her partially paralyzed. She is now 17 and recently broke a world record for the 100 meter backstroke at the World Paralympic Cup.
• 29 Dec 2003 Daily Telegraph (U.K.) “I Didn’t Want Them to Rescue Me” reports on the progress of the British surgeon, Dr. Andrew Lyons, after his propeller accident.
• 5 Dec 2003 Sarasota Herald-Tribune “Mote Monitors Dolphin Calf: The 80 Pound Mammal is Recovering After Being Injured by a Boat’s Propeller” reports Personal Watercraft are beings used to monitor the progress of a year and a half old dolphin calf recovering from a propeller injury that would have probably killed it if it were not reported by an alert boater in November. The fresh gouges had entangled monofilament fishing line in them, working the cuts deeper, preventing the wound from healing, and could have eventually severed his tail flukes, rendering the young dolphin helpless. A group from Mote Marine Laboratory Strandings Investigation Program netted the Dolphin just east of Little Gasparilla Island Nov. 14, removed the line, treated the wound and injected antibiotics. The dolphin, now nicknamed Palcinda Dolphin seems to be healing nicely.
• 30 Oct 2003 Daily Star (St. Vincent accident) “Sailor is Chopped to Pieces” reports M. McCarthy, a marine engineer celebrating five years in the Royal Navy (U.K.) was diving with other sailors on a private launch. As it came to dock in Kingston on the island of St. Vincent he fell from the boat, was sucked under, struck by the propeller, and killed. The accident was watched by his friends on the destroyer, HMS Manchester.
• 28 Oct 2003 APNews from Kingston, St. Vincent “British Sailor Falls Overboard From Tour Boat, Killed by Propellers” reports Michael McCarthy, 21 of England, was killed Saturday Oct 25th when he fell from the deck of the HMS Manchester (a destroyer) and was sucked under by the propellers of a tour boat preparing to dock at Kingston. He “died from severe cuts from the yacht’s propellers.”
• 6 Sep 2003 Alexandria Daily Town Talk (Louisiana) “Boat Accident Lawsuit” reports Yamaha Motor Company and others involved in a lawsuit surrounding the propeller accident of Michael Davis, age 36 of Alexandria. He was struck by the propeller of a Skeeter boat at Red River in October 2000 and has since been a quadriplegic. Yamaha will pay him $6 million in compensatory damages, Dawson Marine and Boat Sales will pay $750,000 in damages, Skeeter will pay $100,000 in court costs. Progressive Insurance will pay $25,000 in damages and $10,000 in court costs. Prosecutors claimed the boat was overpowered, resulting in auto-generated turns.
• 28 Aug 2003 The Capital Times & Wisconsin State Journal “Girl Hit by Boat’s Propeller, Badly Hurt” reports a 16 year old girl was struck by the propeller of a boat towing an inner tube she was riding on Wednesday 27 August. Police were called at 2:37 pm after she and a 16 year old boy both fell or jumped from the tube, the boat came around to pick them up and hit them both. The boy was not injured, she suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries. After the accident, the boat stalled and they had to be rescued by another boat. The girl was taken to Divine Savior Hospital in Portage, then airlifted to University Hospital in Madison.
• 25 August 2003 Associated Press Newswire “Teacher Recovers From Propeller Injuries After Accident” reports from South Hero Vermont: J. Miller, a teacher at Duxbury School was hospitalized after she fell from a boat and was struck by a propeller Sunday 23 August on Lake Champlain. A friend jumped in to save her, and their boat drifted away. The friend lost his glasses and was unable to find the boat. When he could not find the boat, he swam toward what he thought to be the nearest shore. A boater in a 30 foot pontoon found the injured teacher in the water, then located the friend in swells about 300 yards away swimming for help. The teacher was hospitalized at Fletcher Allen Health Care. The gentleman that found them from his pontoon boat called 911 from his cell phone and others on board tended to their injuries.
• 25 August 2003 The Western Mail (United Kingdom) “Boy Critical After Falling on Propeller” reports an 11 year old boy from Newcastle-under-Lyme, near Stoke, fell from a speedboat when it collided with a rigid inflatable boat a few hundred yards from shore off Llanrhystud, near Aberystwyth, at around 7pm on Saturday 23 August. He hit the propeller when he fell and suffered life threatening injuries. The boy was taken to Bronglais Hospital, airlifted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, and later taken to the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff.
• 5 August 2003 Trinidad & Tobago Newsday (Trinidad) “Tiger Searches for His Master” reports the dog belonging to lifeguard Andy Seeraj spent much of yesterday swimming off Mayaro looking for his master, unable to understand he was killed Sunday 3 August in a propeller accident. Around 1 pm Seeraj went out for a swim, he was hit by the propellers of a fishing boat withtwo men on board. Another life guard with help from others pulled him from the water with a fishing seine after he had been struggling in the water for more than 30 minutes. He was still alive but one of his hands was almost severed and he had a deep gash on his head, plus several cuts and bruises on his body. He was taken to Mayaro District Hospital before he died.
• 4 August 2003 The Spokesman Review (state of Washington) “Propeller Strikes, Kills Valley Man; Victim Found in Clear Lake” reports a 37 year old Spokane Valley man was apparently struck by a boat propeller and killed Saturday morning 3 August near Mallard Bay Resort at Clear Lake southwest of Spokane. His body was found floating in a empty boat. Two people in rowboat spotted his boat circling with no one in it. After the engine quit, they investigated and found his body in the boat. The dead gentleman had “severe head and chest injuries, and had less serious injuries on his legs”. He appeared to have been struck by the prop of the 17 foot Starfire boat he and another man had rented from an Air Force boat he and another man had rented from an Air Force base resort.
• 30 July 2003 Daily Telegraph (U.K.) “Surgeon Injured in Holiday Boat Horror” reports Andrew Lyons, a British surgeon, is hospitalized after yesterday’s (29 July) propeller accident. He was ran over by a boat driven by his wife while on holiday on the island of Majorca. This accident is followed up on by several more recent reports on this page.
• 15 July 2003 BBC (U.K.) “Boat Propeller Killed Swimmer” reports Wais Kakar, a 27 year old man from London, was visiting Bournemouth with some friends Sunday (13 July). He was swimming east of the pier about 6pm BST when he was struck by a speedboat. Investigations by a detective, Chief Inspector and Pathologist report his ” injuries were consistent with him having been struck by the large propeller blade of a boat.”
• 9 July 2003 The Kentucky Post (Covington KY) “Evidence Revealed in Boat Probe” reports on a “bloody hit and run crash on the Ohio River June 27.” A $187,000 boat named the “Snap Decision” is the center of the inquest. It is 40 foot Baha with twin 502 engines. Seven people were on a 21 foot open bow pleasure boat. Six of them were injured during the nightime accident. The Baja”s propellers show signs of fresh paint and fibers. Propeller injuries were not specifically listed in the article.
• 8 July 2003 Herald Sun (Australia) “Oil Rig Raid Death a “Freak Accident””. The Australian Army Special Air Services was running a mock raid on a oil rig in Bass Straight on 9 December 2002. Four inflatable boats, each carrying six divers were traveling about 3 meters apart in a staggered formation. The coxwain of one boat lost control when a diver caught his flipper strap on the tiller when he was entered the water. The driver slipped and fell onto his knees. He looked and saw a man being drug by his leg, the boat then veered to the left and struck another diver. He saw a diver about 10 meters away with a face that “looked like it was mangled”. The supervising officer said in hindsight, “propeller guards should have been used”, however the boat was harder to control with guards. The soldier killed by the propeller was a 33 year old sergeant from Perth.
• 30 June 2003 Boston Globe reports two sisters received severe cuts from the propeller of a “runaway boat” on China Lake. The girls, ages 6 and 12, were is stable condition Saturday. They had been thrown from a 14 foot boat piloted by their dad when he lost control of it Friday night 27 June, apparently after hitting something in the water. They were taken to Maine Medical Center.
• 26 Jun 2003 San Antonio Express-News “Mystery: Who Was on Boat?” reports an update on a hit and run propeller strike that resulted in the death of Laura Putnam in a May 26 collision on Lake LBJ in Texas. She was on the lake in a relative’s boat with her new fiance and his cousin. They were stationary with their navigation lights on, a craft bore down on them, it ripped into the drivers side where she was sitting, she went airborne and into the water. Her body was found on June 8th with “a chopping wound above her left eye.” On June 17th they found a white boat with maroon stripes and a damaged propeller on a lakeside property owned by two prominent businessmen. They and some other couples had came to the lake to celebrate the San Antonio Spurs victory in the NBA semifinals that weekend. The accident occurred about 2:30 am. Per their account, the businessmen were asleep at that time, if their other guests had used the boat they think the guests would have told them. They say someone used their boat, but they are not sure who.
• 11 June 2003 Accident Date – Shelby Howard fell from a pontoon boat and was killed by its propeller. A lawsuit was later filed by her parents, Dwayne and Linda Howard v. Mercury MerCruiser and Beachcomber Boats. U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Texas, Texarkana Division.
• 13 Jan 2003 Townsville Bulletin (Australia) “Propeller Hits Man” reports a 42 year old man fell from a boat and was hit by the propeller about 6pm Friday 10 January off Shoal Point near Mackay. The propeller ” inflicted severe facial injuries”. “Ambulance officers reported to be unable to distinguish the man’s eyes or lips because his injuries were so severe”. He was taken to Mackay Hospital and transferred to Townsville.
• 30 Dec 2002 The Newcastle Herald (Australia) “News – Injured by Propeller” reports a Queensland woman was swimming near Hawks Nest when stuck by the propeller of a runabout driven by one her friends that was towing a float carrying children. She tried to dive to avoid being struck, but suffered “severe cuts to her left leg” about 5 pm Saturday 28 December. She was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital where “she had extensive surgery”.
• 5 Dec 2002 Townsville Bulletin (Australia) “Police Investigating Cause of Reef Propeller Accident” reports a 22 year old diver was struck by the propeller of a dinghy operated by his own crew while diving for sea cucumber on Kelso Reef about noon, Tuesday 3 December. His “buttock was sliced open with a boat propeller off Townsville.” A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said he was very lucky not to have been more seriously injured and “We have all seen what a boat propeller can do to a body, and have seen some horrific injuries, they are like razors.”
• 22 Oct 2002 New Zealand Press Association “Boatie Injured by Propeller” reports a 64 year old Ngaruawahia man fell from a boat and his head was struck by the propeller in the western Bay of Plenty this morning. He was pulled unconscious from the water, revived, and airlifted to Tauranga Hospital. Injuries included head lacerations and a serious hand injury. The report was filed from Wellington NZ.
• 1 Oct 2002 Salt Lake Tribune “Swimmer Missing” reports National Park Service divers are still searching for Ken Kidder, a Colorado man, in the Knowles Canyon area of Lake Powell. He was last seen trying to clear a rope tangled in a houseboat propeller on Saturday 28 September. He had a PFD on at first, then removed it saying he could not dive to the propeller with it on. He did not resurface after his third attempt in about 40 feet of water.
• 19 Sept 2002 BBC (U.K.) “Boy Hit by Boat Propeller” reports Ross Morgan, a 6 year old Cornish boy from Playing Place near Truro, fell from his fathers 18 foot Lugger boat during a family fishing trip on July 6th off Loe Beach at Feock on 6 July as the boat operator steered so another boat could pass. An off duty surgeon attempted to resuscitate him on the beach, Ross was life flighted to Royal Cornwall Hospital. “A pathologist’s report said Ross died of serious head injuries caused by the propeller.”
• 2 Sept 2002 Newquest Media Group Newspapers (U.K.) “Propeller Man’s Miracle Escape” reports T. Maddran, a 41 year old man, fell over the side of his inflatable dinghy and hit the propeller blades receiving “gashes to his back and head” as he struggled underwater on the afternoon of Saturday August 31st. After drifting near the two Brighton Piers, the set off for Shoreham harbor. When he fell over he felt a stunning blow, surfaced as quickly as possible, his girlfriend stopped the engine, but the boat was about 100 feet away. He managed to swim to the boat, received 5 stitches to his head and six fairly large grazes on his back. The Coast Guard reported it was a miracle he was not hurt much worse.
• 1 Sept 2002 – Per Nevada court filings- R. Tyler, a young woman on a houseboat rental vacation at Lake Mead with several other people, was in the water near the rear ladder waiting for another lady to finish climbing the ladder. An outboard engine was started and both of Miss.Tyler’s feet were struck by the houseboat propeller on this date.
• 16 Aug 2002 The Kentucky Post “Lawsuit Accuses Ragland Claim Centers on Boat Outing” reports on a July 2001 boat outing on the Kentucky river in which a woman, E.M. Houston, accuses Mr. Ragland (formerly convicted of a 1994 sniper slaying of a football player) or pushing her from a boat, after which she was injured by the propeller. Others claim she jumped from the boat and was injured by the propeller when she tried to get back in.
• 10 August 2002 Accident Date – 9 March 2004 San Diego Union – Tribune (California) “Aspiring Actor Has Brain Damage” reported Joel Roberts, and eight year veteran of the U.S. Navy that was training as a Navy Seal was spearfishing about 1600 feet off of Bird Rock Reef and was hit by a boat 10 August 2002. The prop “fractured his skull, sliced his brain, and also injured a shoulder blade and ribs.” A jury in San Diego just awarded him a unanimous verdict of $6.7 million against the boat operator.
• 14 July 2002 – on this date, Leigh Anne Wilson, age 24, was struck by the propeller of a boat with some of her friends onboard that accidentally ran over her in Clear Lake (Lake County CA). A major artery in her leg was cut and she bled to death. This information was supplied by a family member that indicated the accident was covered by the Lake County Record Bee newspaper.
• 6 July 2002 Boston Globe “Developer Charged in Boating Fatality Longtime Friend Killed by Craft’s Propellers” reports William Sanderson, age 62, a realtor in Norwell was boating with a friend at Martha’s Vineyard on July 4th. His friend’s performance boat, a 47 foot cigarette boat named “Thunder Enlightening” was landed in shallow water about 4 pm near Chappy Point Beach on the Edgartown outer harbor. Mr. Sanderson was helping several passengers out of the high sided boat. While he was wading back toward the stern, he was sucked underwater and struck by the propellers. He was taken to Edgartown Yacht Club, then transferred to an ambulance to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital with “massive abdominal injuries”. Mr. Sanderson was pronounced dead at the hospital at 4:40pm.
• 24 June 2002 The Canadian Press “Boat Propeller Slashes Arm of Maple Leaf’s Winger Mikael Renberg” reports the 30 year old hockey player was boating with family and friends in Sweden near his summer home on the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea on Thursday June 20th. While pulling up anchor, he slipped, fell into the water, tried to swim away, but was still struck by the propeller of his eight meter boat. It sliced through a muscle on his upper right arm. He was taken to a hospital in Pitea, treated for injury and shock. The Akron Beacon of this same date also reported this accident.
• June 2002 (unknown exact date) (from a much later 2 August 2007 report on GoUpstate.com in North Carolina), “12-year-old Clayton Reed Spencer died after being struck by a ski boat propeller” on Lake Bowen.
• 9 Feb 2002 The Daily News (ILI of New Zealand) “Houseboat Fall Led to Drowning” reports Philip Eugene Hurley, a man from Hawera, was killed on Lake Rotorangi on 28 April 2001 when he went into the water over the back of the boat and became entagled in the propeller of a houseboat.
• February 2002 MAIB Safety Digest “Case 19 Be Prepared” (pg. 42) reports a May 2001 Morayshire club accident that occurred at a RYA training activity. In the late morning two RIBS were to demonstrate how one boat can peel off the other when running side by side at speed (about 15 knots). Just as one boat peeled off, one them suffered a drive failure. The disabled boat rapidly slowed, then took the wake of the other boat. At this time, one of the trainees was thrown overboard and struck by the propeller of the disabled RIB, injuring his left hand. When the wake hit, another trainee was thrown into the “centre line driving rack” and injured. When emergency personnel reached the scene, an instructor had also collapsed into a diabetic coma.
• 23 Jan 2002 “Man Killed by Propeller in Horror at Boat Show” Daily Mail (London England UK) reports on the trial surrounding a 22 Sept 2000 accident at the Southampton Boat Show. Mr. T. Douglas-Johnson and a boat dealer fell into the water when an 18 foot Italian built Arimar RIB with a top speed of 35mph “careered terrifyingly out of control”. They were both drug in the water in the show demonstration area. Mr. Douglas-Johnson unsuccessfully attempted to avoid being struck by the 15 inch propeller. “The 20-year-old marine engineer died at the scene from his injuries.” The case accuses the dealer of failing to make sure the engine kill cord was attached to a lady friend of Mr. Douglas-Johnson’s that took that was driving the boat. The crew of Zodiak RIB tried to block the Arimar after it was wildly circling with no one at the helm while pulling the two to safety. On one of the circles, the Arimar went straight over Mr. Douglas-Johnson. “He was cut very badly.” The Zodiak picked him up and he was pronounced dead a short time later. The Zodiak crew radioed for help before returning to shore.
• 2002 Unknown Date – 13 October 2010 Phuket Gazette (Thailand) “Phuket Dive Boat Goes Up in Flames” reports a widely known dive tour operator lost a dive boat to a fire this morning (13 October 2010). The dive boat, the Laddawan 2, was in the news eight years ago (2002) a member of the crew “had his stomach sliced open and his limbs almost severed while cleaning the propeller” near Koh Racha Yai. The article also provides a photo of the dive boat on fire.
• 5 Oct 2001 BBC News “Jackie Chan ‘Saves’ Stuntman’s Life” reports in 2001 while filming “Rush Hour 2” in Hong Kong, Mr Chan was to kick two stuntmen off a moving boat. One was caught under the boat. Chan pulled him out by the arm just when the stuntman thought he could not hold on any longer and would be killed by the propeller.
• 1 Oct 2001 Good Housekeeping “My Husband Saved My Life!” Vol. 233 No.4 Pg. 168. Oct 2001. reports on a November 2000 accident in the Carribean where Nina Totenberg, a legal correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR) was injured. She had just married a trauma specialist (Dr. Reines) and chief of surgery at a Boston hospital. They were in Anguilla for a short honeymoon. Snorkeling about 1/4 mile from beach they decided to move back closer, just then a small fishing boat bore bore down on her. Her husband reports “I heard a thunk, and Nina disappeared.” She had been struck by the boat and by the propeller. A passing ski boat helped them to shore. She was taken to a small hospital. When doctors removed her bathing cap, her husband saw a bloody grove from her hairline to the crown of her head. “Her skull was laid open” He also reports her front teeth were also broken (maybe by the snorkel and mask) and there was a serious cut in her armpit. “Later he found there were three or four 20-inch gashes on her back”. The next day a humble fisherman and his wife came to the hotel with flowers. He earlier thought he had hit a turtle. Ten days later she returned to work.
• 3 September 2001 Townsville Bulletin (Australia) “Man’s Face Hurt by Boat Propeller” reports a 36 year old man was struck in the face by a boat propeller 2 September at Dunk Island. He was airlifted to Cairns Base Hospital about 2 pm.
• 21 August 2001 Scottish Daily Record (U.K.) “Propeller Horror of Mark 22” reports a 22 year old student from Carluke, Lanarkshire, Scotland was injured by a boat propeller while at summer camp in America on 20 August. M. Ure suffered “horrendous leg injuries”, and was dragged under the boat while trying to direct it away from a youngster in the water. Doctors at Hartford Hospital (CT) battled to have his legs last night. Mark, a counselor at Sloan YMCA camp in Lakeville, was teaching a teenager to water ski. The boat, being driven by a lifeguard, reversed too close to the teenager and Mark tried to direct it away from him. “His legs were dragged into the powerful propellers before they could be shut down. His kneecaps were shattered by the impact, the skin was torn from both legs and one foot was almost completely cut off.” Surgeons have already removed two toes from one foot, he faces months of painful skin-graft operations and rehab before they will know if he will ever be able to walk again.
• 19 Aug 2001 Reno Gazette-Journal (Nevada) “Woman Fights to Save Leg After Boating Accident” reports a woman in her early 30’s from the Reno-Sparks area was with six relatives, including two of her children, in motor boat about 3:45 pm August 18th at Pyramid Lake. They were going out to retrieve and inner tube that had blown off the beach. She fell from the boat “and got her right leg caught in the propeller.” She was treated on site by medics, then lifeflighted to Washoe Medical Center where surgeons are working to re-attach her leg that police said, “the propeller blade cut off the woman’s leg almost completely at the knee.” This accident resulted in a legal case we covered at Listman vs. OMC Propeller Accident Trial
• 7 Aug 2001 per Daniel Sinacola v Township of Leland – on this date Mr. Sinacola was struck by one or two boats while in a party raft with several other people. Another person responded to a distress cell phone call from another vessel went to aid them and was then returning along with the second vessel when one or both of them drove over the raft, striking Mr Sinacola with the propeller(s).
• 12 July 2001 Quad City Herald (Brewster Washington) “Boat Accident Injures Visiting Teacher” reports C. Ramirez, an exchange teacher from Puebla Mexico was one of two people on a boat July 4th on the Okanogan River about 10 miles north of Brewster. The boat was towing an inner tube, the boat hit an object in the water and both people in boat were ejected. The boat circled and she was hit by its propeller. She suffered “severe cuts on her face and neck”. She could not swim well, but wore a life jacket. Although it was incorrectly buckled (the life jacket / pfd) “it absorbed part of the blow which may have saved Ramirex from decapitation.” She was taken to Okanogan Douglas Hospital and received 50 stitches to close the cut on her face and 30 stitches to close her shoulder wound.
• 30 Jun 2001 Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX) “Boat Propellers Injure Boy on Lewisville Lake” reports a twelve year old boy jumped from the second story of a large boat (called a houseboat in one report) on Friday 29 June, hit the water and “was struck repeatedly by the boats propellers.” Paramedics were on the scene about 4:40 pm and called for a life flight helicopter. He was taken to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. The young boy was attending a church group outing on a private party boat per police. Other reports place his age at 13. Still other reports indicate he was in the water and just did not board when the rest did, it was a party boat rental from Just for Fun Watercraft Rental and was drifting about a quarter of a mile from Pier 121 Marina.
  We devote a page to discussing the reports surrounding this accident at Some Propeller Accidents Are Misclassified.
• 2 June 2001 Lake Muarepas (Louisiana) Accident Date – per Challing Eugene Albert LeBlanc memorial site. Challing, then four years old was as at summer bash on Lake Maurepas with his dad. One their way back home, a bigger boat flew by, their boat hit the wake, his father was ejected, the boat began to circle, he was ejected and “hit by the prop several times.” Even wearing his life jacket, it took USCG about 5 hours to find his body. His father survived.
• 26 May 2001 Accident Date – 14 May 2002 Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Press Release “Two State Troopers Will Receive Annual Awards” reports the May 26 2001 rescue of Tamra Carpenter, an 18 year old girl injured by a propeller on Lake Thunderbird. When troopers arrived, her leg was entrapped in the propeller and a man was holding her head above water. Fearing the prop could cut her femoral artery, a trooper removed the prop from the shaft while a wall of humans tried to reduce waves that were causing her intense pain. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital with the prop still embedded in her leg. One of the troopers involved in the rescue received a Trooper of the Year award for his heroism in rescuing her, along with other awards.
• 20 January 2001 Straights Times (Malaysia/Singapore) “Slashed to Death by Boat Propeller” reports a 47 year old illegal Chinese immigrant, Mr. Li Fu Mi was hit by a ski boat while swimming in the Kallang River on Oct 7, 2000. A water ski instructor training four national skiers , “suddenly heard a thud coming from the stern of the craft, where the propeller was situated.” Someone pulled the gentleman from the water and another called the police. “He was badly cut on his chest and abdomen and showed no signs of life”. The area is designated for water skiing and the public is warned not to swim there, but it remains a popular swimming area.
• 15 January 2001 The Dominion (U.K.) “Diver Caught in Propeller” reports a 20 year old diver was life flighted from the Chatham Islands with “compound fractures of the legs and several lacerations.” The air ambulance left at 9pm from Wellington.
• 18 Dec 2000 Accident – 15 Dec 2002 Daily Mail (London England paper) (accident in Mexico) “Kirsty Was Hit by the Boat … The Sea Around Her Turned to Blood” reports an update on the Kirsty MacCall propeller accident of 18 December 2000. Kirsty, a well known pop singer, was diving coral reefs in Cozumel Mexico with her dive master and her two sons. They were a couple hundred yards off shore at Chankanaab Reef. When they surfaced, a powerboat was speeding toward them. Kirsty tried to push one of her sons away. She was struck in the head and side and by the propeller and killed instantly. The boat that struck her, “Percalito”, belonged to a powerful Mexican businessman. Both sides tell different stories about the accident. Her mother is seeking justice and launched a web site, Justice for Kirsty.
• 2 Dec 2000 Gold Coast Bulletin (Australia) “$700,000 Paid Out for Diving Accident” reports the results of a recent trial involving a diver being struck by a propeller. Thomas Abrey of Norfolk, England was hit on his left forearm by the outboard motor propeller of a safety tender while he was snorkeling of Keppel Island. he was taken to Rockhampton Base Hospital then airlifted to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital. As a result of his injuries his left arm was amputated below the elbow. Mr. Abrey sued Keppel Tourist Services Pty Ltd (operator of the tender), and the driver alleging the company failed to use a guard similar to those used with surf lifesaving boats that would have prevented the accident.
• 13 Oct 2000 Illawarra Mercury (Australia) “Propeller Hits Fisherman” reports a 50 year old fisherman from Sydney was struck in the head by a propeller at Sussex Inlet 12 October after falling overboard. The boat was spinning in circles and the propeller jammed on his shirt sleeve stalling the motor. While still caught up in the propeller he was lucky to be in only waist deep water near the Nelson Lane boat ramp.
• Oct 2000 – during this month – Michael Davis of Alexandria Louisiana was struck by the propeller of a Skeeter bass boat and became a quadriplegic. This accident later became a court case focused on the boat being over powered. See 6 Sept 2003 news item above.
• 17 September 2000 Redding Record Searchlight (CA) “Man Suffers Propeller Cuts” reports Felix Shrayber, age 47 of Fair Oaks, was on a personal watercraft headed toward the back of a houseboat on Lake Shasta, fell into the water, and the houseboat propeller idling in reverse struck his leg in four places on Saturday 16 Sept near Jones Valley Marina. He was life flighted to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Note – this accident later turned into a court case Shrayber v. Holiday Harbor, Inc. 2003 WL 21197691 (Cal.App. 1 Dist., May 22, 2003) (NO. A099975).
• 11-17 Aug 2000 Cape Gazette (Delaware) “Pa. Man Hurt by Boat Propeller in Dewey” reports a 29 year old man from Philadelphia was on the stern of a pontoon boat in Rehoboth Bay about 3pm Saturday August 5th. He was apparently “trying to retrieve a line off the back of the moving boat, when he lost his balance and fell into the water.” He was sucked into the propeller wash and then into the propeller. He suffered “multiple propeller slices on his chest, he and both hands” and was taken to Beebe Medical Center.
• 16 Aug 2000 Buffalo News (NY) Boy Injured by Boat’s Propeller reports a 10 year old boy, N. Murphy of Wellsboro PA, was injured Tuesday morning August 15th while water skiing at Chautauqua Lake. He suffered “several large cuts on both legs” and was treated at Westfield Memorial Hospital. He was skiing behind a rental boat driven by his father. About 9:30 am he fell, his dad stopped to help him, the ski rope became wrapped around the propeller and the boy’s foot. The boat was still in gear and pulled the boy into the prop.
• 7 Aug 2000 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “Woman Tumbles From Boat” reports J. Sneesby, age 29 of Kenosha, was riding in a 1971 boat early Sunday afternoon 6 August with her husband and son on Camp Lake. They were about 200 yards from shore when the boat’s steering mechanism failed. Her husband who was steering, lost his balance when the boat suddenly veered to the right. When he lost his balance, he knocked her into the water. The boat circled and ran over her. Her husband was able to slow the boat, jump in, and keep his wife from going under till a nearby boater came to help. She received “severe cuts as well as fractures to both legs.”
• August 2000 Accident Date Canada – 12 October 2011 Daily Mail (UK) “Exclusive: Best Foot Forward” reports Stef Reid, a female paraolympian now living in Great Britain was in Canada just north of Toronto in August 2000. She was tubing behind a boat, fell, the boat circled to pick her up, did not see her, and she was struck by the propeller. She tried to dive under the boat but was wearing a life jacket. Stef was given little hope for surviving, but beat the odds and only lost her lower right leg. She now trains for the 100 meters and 200 meter sprints in the 2012 Paraolympics to be held in London. She and her husband currently alternate between living in London and Texas.
• 21 July 2000 The New Straights Times (Malaysia) “German Tourist Hit by Boat Propeller” reports a tourist (29 year old Dr. T. Stovbel) from Germany suffered “serious head injuries” swimming near a tourist resort in Pulau Perhentian on 20 July. He was diving with his girlfriend about 1:30 pm, and was hit by a boat propeller. He was sent to Besut Hospital and later transferred to a University hospital.
• 15 June 2000 Anderson Independent-Mail (SC) “Greenville Woman Nearly Drowns” reports a woman, Ms. Mahoney age 47, dove from the stern of a houseboat on Hartwell lake Wednesday morning June 14th about 10 am to cut a rope tangled in the propeller. During the process she hit her head on something and was knocked unconscious. The houseboat’s owner came from the cabin and found her floating face down. He called 911 and a natural resources boat took her to Apple Island where she was life flighted to old McCants Middle School and then taken to Anderson Area Medical Center by ambulance.
• 3 Jun 2000 Coventry England Telegraph (England) “Battle to Save Man’s Leg After Boat Horror” reports a 32 year old man on a narrowboat, thought to be rented, was on the Oxford Canal just outside Rugby about 7pm yesterday (2 June) near Old Onley Farm and Onley Prison. He had been standing on the narrow boat. It is unclear from the article how he “got tangled in the propeller system of a narrow boat”. Helicopter life flight transport was called, but unavailable. He was taken by paramedics to Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital. The man was in surgery last night in an effort to save one of his legs.
• 20 May 2000 per Vanderpool v. Edmondson court case, on this date R. Vanderpool (a young lady) was a passenger on a pontoon boat owned by J. Edmondson and operated by his son. At approximately 6:30 p.m., while the boat was anchored in the Tennessee River, the young lady was holding onto the front of the deck of the pontoon boat with her hand and treading water. R. Edmondson suddenly started the motor, moving the boat forward. The young lady lost her grip on the boat; the boat passed over her. She was struck by the boat motor.
• 2 May 2000 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “Lake Monona Boater Struck by Propeller” reports P. Schroeder, a 46 year old man from Madison, was seriously injured May 1st when thrown from a 15 foot Chrysler tri-hull boat on Lake Monona, about 300 yards from the Elk’s club. He was struck by the prop and the boat continued to circle. He was pulled from the water by a passing boater shortly after 4pm and taken to the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.
• May 2000 Accident Date- 2009 May 19 Chattanooga Times Free Press “Life-Changing Injury Compels Rachael Gardner to Inspire, Help Others” reports in the week before her high school graduation, May 2000, she was floating beside a pontoon boat on a lake near Dayton Tennessee. When the boat surged forward she was struck by its propeller which gashed her right leg in six places and nearly severed her right arm.” She was taken to Erlanger hospital. Rachael Gardner has since spoken with and offered encouragement to many others with similar difficulties.
• 11 Jan 2000 AAP General News (Australia) “Boy Hurt by Boat Propeller” reports a six year old boy was fishing with his father at midday today on the Calliope River. He fell from the small runabout, was ran over by it, and hit by its propeller. The boy was taken to Gladstone Hospital in serious condition and plans are being made to take him to Brisbane for more treatment.