The victim was tubing behind the vessel and fell off. The vessel turned around to pick up the tuber.  The victim got dangerously close to the stern of the vessel with a running outdrive while attempting to climb up the middle of the swim platform. The operator had stated that he put the boat in neutral approximately 100 feet prior to gliding up to the victim. (It was later determined in the investigation that the throttle control had a standard button near the top which acts as a neutral lock when properly functioning. The button automatically clicks into place when the neutral gear is activated. It was determined that this safety feature was faulty and did not need to be depressed to be put the outdrive in gear. ) The operator lost site of the victim as she attempted to climb onto the swim platform.  The operator heard a noise from the victim and shut off the engine immediately. He ran to the stern of the boat to assist the victim and realized she had been struck by the propeller resulting in a laceration just below her left knee and two lacerations just above her right ankle and that the ski line had become entangled in the propeller. The victim was taken by ambulance to the Danbury Hospital. The operator of the vessel had limited experience on vessels and the one involved had been purchased a few months prior to the accident.
Newtown                       