Propeller cuts water skier

Photo: Colin Dacre file photo

10:30 a.m. MONDAY 

The Penticton Fire Department has confirmed a man sustained serious injuries Sunday afternoon after being cut by a boat propeller.

Captain Graham Gowe said the incident happened out on the lake when a water skier was trying to re-enter the back of the boat via the swim grid while the driver erroneously thought the boat was in neutral. 

When the water skier’s legs swung under the boat they made contact with the propeller, resulting in major trauma to the left ankle and cuts to both legs.

Fire crews and paramedics arrived at the boat launch at the Penticton Yacht Club to meet the hurt man, who was being brought back in from the lake on the boat that cut him.

“It could be a life changing injury,” Gowe said, explaining the 55-year-old man likely needed emergency surgery. 

Gowe says boat propeller injuries are not common for them, but they would like to advise boaters to simply shut the boat off when swimmers or water skiers trying to access the vessel.

ORIGINAL 3 p.m. SUNDAY 

There are unconfirmed reports of a serious injury Sunday afternoon at a Penticton boat launch.

Emergency crews were called to the boat launch at the Penticton Yacht Club on Okanagan Lake shortly before 1:30 p.m. for a severe bleeding call.

Witness Skylar Noe-Vack tells Castanet a person had their legs and feet badly cut by a boat propeller. Emergency crews found the victim waiting at the boat launch with family. 

Castanet has reached out to the Penticton Fire Department for more information and will update.