Bayville Woman Critically Hurt After Being Struck by Boat Propeller

A 34-year-old Bayville woman is in critical, but stable condition after she was struck by a boat propeller in the waters between Cove Neck and Cold Spring Harbor on Saturday afternoon, Nassau Police said.

The freak accident occurred when the woman jumped off a boat to retrieve a water tube that had become untied at about 12:30 p.m. When the woman began to swim back to the boat, the boat’s operator, unaware of the woman’s position in the water and in the process of anchoring, put the engine in reverse, police said.

As the woman, who police did not name, approached the back of the boat, she came into contact with the engine’s propeller, causing her to suffer severe lacerations to her right leg, police said.

She was transported to an area hospital by a Nassau County Police Department Air Bureau helicopter for treatment of her injuries.

The boat was impounded for safety checks and the accident has been deemed non-criminal at this time, police said.

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