In a devastating incident at Lake Pleasant in Arizona, a 6-year-old girl lost her life in a tragic accident. The young girl was accidentally struck by a boat propeller, leading to her untimely demise. Authorities are investigating the incident, which occurred during a boating excursion involving two families.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a group of 12 people, comprising two families, had been on a wakeboard boat since early morning on Friday. At around 11 a.m., tragedy struck when the family of the 6-year-old girl reported that she had been struck by the boat’s propeller. Witnesses at the scene confirmed that the child’s mother was operating the boat, unaware that the young girl had somehow entered the water.
The child’s father, who was in the water holding onto a wakeboard, noticed an unidentified person and swam towards them. To their horror, the parents soon realized that their daughter had suffered a leg amputation due to the boat’s propeller. The family received immediate assistance from other boaters, who helped transport the child to the lake’s marina. Despite the efforts of first responders, the girl was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Maricopa Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez addressed the incident, describing it as a tragic accident. He emphasized that the presence of numerous individuals on the boat may have contributed to the unfortunate event. Sgt. Enriquez confirmed that impairment did not appear to be a factor, and preliminary investigations indicated that the boat was equipped with all necessary safety gear, including life jackets and fire extinguishers. The owners of the boat were experienced boaters, further highlighting the unforeseen nature of the accident.
In the aftermath of the incident, authorities are conducting a thorough investigation. Sgt. Enriquez revealed that initial interviews suggested the group may have lost track of who was on the boat at a given time. The individuals were engaged in various activities such as swimming and wakeboarding, which may have caused confusion. Lake Pleasant Regional Park, located northwest of Phoenix, is a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts, offering opportunities for wakeboarding, boating, and kayaking.