Vessel one was parked on the dry riverbed at the Rutland flats off the Withlacoochee River and the engine was not running. The operator, thinking that the victim was getting into the vessel, started to crank the motor. The victim, however, had walked to the rear of the vessel and was reaching over the transom into the back of the airboat from between the rudders to retrieve something she saw in the bottom of the vessel. The victim was struck in the head by the three blade propeller causing an open skull fracture and near amputation of the right ear. She also suffered massive intercranial bleeding and multiple facial fractures. The victim was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital and admitted for surgery.  ; 
FLORAL CITY                   