On Saturday, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Colorado River Area North of Lake Havasu for reports of a male subject who had been struck by a boat propeller.
The victim had been loaded into the involved boat, and was transported to the Lake Havasu State Park Launch Ramp.
During the investigation, it was determined that the boat had become stuck in a shallow portion of the river, causing several subjects to exit the boat, and enter the water in an attempt to push the boat into deeper water. After they were successful in getting the boat into deeper water, the operator of the watercraft began to reverse towards a male who was swimming in the water. The operator thought that the boat was in neutral, but mistakenly left the boat in reverse. The person swimming approached the rear ladder area when he was struck in the abdomen several times by the boat’s propeller, causing significant lacerations. The male victim was pulled from the water immediately.
The male was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office sys operator inexperience appears to be a factor, with impairment not suspected.