On Saturday, August 5 around 11:30 am a boating incident occurred on Kerr Scott Reservoir.  Injured was riding with her family on their pontoon boat.  Injured was located towards the stern of the boat on the back seat.  As the pontoon was underway, a tube was being towed behind the boat. The tie point that the tube was being towed from was affixed to the bench seat that Injured was sitting on. While underway the front edge of the tube abruptly went under water causing the tow line to tighten fast and rip the bench seat off of the boat with Injured still seated.  While Injured was falling in the water, the location of the seat and the tow rope resulted in her being dropped right at the stern of the boat where the propeller was located. Injured quickly realized she was in a dangerous area but immediately was struck by the propeller. She then pushed off trying to turn and swim away.  In doing so, the propeller struck the rear portion of her right leg and heel as she was attempting to create distance between herself and the propeller.  As this was happening. the operator of the boat quickly realized what was happening and turned off the engine. Injured then called out to her family on board that she was hurt, and they retrieved her from the water and pulled her back onboard. As her dad and grandfather pulled her onboard, Passenger 5 called 911 to advise EMS of Injured's injuries. Once back on-board, Injured had a towel wrapped around her leg to apply pressure. Operator then rushed to Smithey's Creek Boat Ramp and pulled the boat up to the bank. Once they got to the bank, EMS arrived and began treating the severe lacerations. EMS then transferred her into the ambulance where she was subsequently transported to Atrium Wake Forest Baptist for treatment. 

This incident occurred due to the orientation and location of the tie point that the tube was being pulled from. The seat was not fastened adequately to the boat.  Instead, it was strapped to the boat with a rope tied to it. As a result, when the tube came under pressure from going under the water the seat broke loose.  However, the additional rope tied to it prevented it from being able to fully clear the rear of the boat causing Injured to be dumped directly into the water in close proximity of the propeller.


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KERR SCOTT RES
WILKESBORO                    