A 34-year-old Canadian man lost his foot to a boat propeller over the weekend in what has been described as a “horrific” accident on Whitefish Lake.
Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial said the incident occurred on June 24 shortly after 6:30 p.m. According to Dial, a group of visitors had been wakeboarding on Whitefish Lake when the person riding behind the boat fell.
The driver turned the boat around and went to pick up the swimmer. While the swimmer got back into the boat, another man jumped into the lake, unbeknown to the operator. The operator started to accelerate the boat just as the man’s feet were by the propeller.
“According to witnesses, they heard a grinding noise and then screaming,” Chief Dial said.
One foot was severed and the other was badly mangled. Whitefish police and firefighters met the boat in the lake and transferred the victim to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
According to Dial, the man’s lost foot has not been recovered.
Dial said it appeared alcohol was not involved in the incident but that it serves as an important reminder to be safe when boating on the water.
“This was a horrific incident and it’s a good reminder to always be safe on the water,” he said.