Boy falls into spinning propeller after two boats collide off West Florida, USCG says

A 14-year-old was seriously hurt off Florida’s Gulf Coast when he fell off a boat into its spinning propellers, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

It happened Sunday, Aug. 13, when two boats collided 13 miles northwest of Egmont Key in the Gulf of Mexico, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

The collision sent the boy tumbling into the water, officials said, and he “sustained lacerations to his arm from a propeller.”

“Our boat crew was able to rescue the seriously injured young man quickly and efficiently, due to (a call for help) from good Samaritans,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Jennings said in a release.

“The responding boat crew ... provided first aid and transported the injured boy to EMS at Merry Pier to receive a higher level of care.”

The boy’s identity and condition were not released.

A cause for the boat collision was not revealed.

“It is incredibly important for mariners to keep a proper lookout when running their vessel regardless of location,” officials said.

The area where the collision occurred is between Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge and North Beach at Fort DeSoto Park. The key is just outside Tampa Bay, south of St. Petersburg.

This story was originally published August 14, 2023 at 7:49 AM with the headline "Boy falls into spinning propeller after two boats collide off West Florida, USCG says."