Moments Before and After the Incident
On Friday, July 28, a six-year-old girl tragically died in a horrific boating accident in Pleasant Lake, Arizona. The unfortunate event occurred when the young child, unbeknownst to anyone, manage to return to the water and nobody noticed she was missing.
According to eyewitnesses, the mother took control of the boat after the child jumped back into the water. Tragically, she accidentally hit the girl with the propeller, resulting in her leg being amputated and ultimately causing her death shortly after.
Unfortunately, the young girl’s body was found by her father. He had already been in the water at the time of the incident, holding onto a wakeboard. The father noticed someone in the water, and grasping the fact it was his own child, he swam to it.
Later, after the body was found in the water and the parent realized what had happened to their child. They notice her leg had been amputated by the propeller. The family rushed her to the lake’s marina, where she received help from the ambulance service. Minutes later, she was taken to the nearest hospital. Despite their best efforts, she, unfortunately, lost her life.
Ongoing Investigation
For now, no signs of impairment have been found in the case. Forcing investigators to rule the incident as a “tragic accident.” However, the case will still remain open for further evidence.
Additionally, there is solid proof that 12 individuals from two families were present on the boat during the incident. They had been on the boat from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. when they contacted emergency services concerning the young girl.
As a matter of fact, investigators state that the mother’s inability to realize her child was missing was partly because of the large number of people present on the boat. Additionally, the transition from swimming to wakeboarding also caused confusion and made it difficult for everyone to keep track of who was on the boat.
Despite the evidence, detectives are unsure if earlier statements about the girl’s situation are accurate or if a crime has taken place. Since the number of people on the boat suggests someone could have potentially rescued the girl, but this did not happen. Consequently, the investigation will persist, with the aim of acquiring additional evidence.
Written By Nohemi Sanchez
Sources:
Daily Mail: Mom accidently Kills her six-year-old daughter during family day at lake after their boat propeller slices of her leg
NEWS: 6-year-old girl dies after mother accidentally struck her with a boat propeller in Arizona
USA Today: Girl, 6, is latest child to die or be injured from boating accidents this summer across US
Featured Image Courtesy of GrahamAndDairne Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Images Courtesy of Steve Harwood Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
