Captain Killed In Tragic Boating Accident

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A tragic accident left a 69-year-old boat captain dead in Newport Beach. The man died Sunday after he went for a swim, and was severely cut by his boat's propeller when the boat was backing up to retrieve him according to authorities.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was severely cut by the 60- foot yacht's propeller on Sunday.
"The guy went for a swim at the back of the boat and whoever was in the boat in the driver's seat thought he would back it up to help get on board and the propeller sucked him up and chewed him up," Orange County sheriff's Lieutenant Lane Lagaret said.

It appears to have been a terrible accident, but investigators were continuing to review the evidence to see if any criminal charges may be warranted, Lagaret said.

The accident was reported to the Orange County Sheriff's Harbor Patrol at just after 2:45 p.m. as passengers aboard his large double-decker boat tried to save their captain, Sheriff's Lt. Steve Gil told the Orange County Register.

Gil stated that the boat captain climbed into the water for a swim close to the open waters near the jetty. In an attempt to retrieve him quicker, an unnamed person on-board reversed the boat toward him and the man was mortally wounded by the boat's propeller.

Others on the boat pulled the victim ashore and got him on the dock near the Coast Guard as they tried to perform CPR on him, but paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, Lagaret said.

Alcohol did not appear to be a factor in this accident, Gil said.

No names have yet been released in this incident.

This story will be updated as more information is released.