A boating accident at Lake Berryessa led to a 39-year-old Richmond man having part of his hand amputated. The man fell off a boat and was subsequently hit by the vessel’s propeller, resulting in “major” lacerations on his hand and wrist.
The incident occurred around 12:48 p.m. on Sunday. A deputy from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office quickly applied a tourniquet to the man’s injuries to halt the bleeding.
Although the man was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident, his family members were able to pull him back onto the boat. Before the accident, the victim had been riding on the front of the bow, a practice that the Napa County Sheriff’s Office strongly advises against for safety reasons.
Following his rescue, the man was airlifted to a hospital in Vacaville for surgery. The sheriff’s office praised the collaborative effort between their department, CAL FIRE, and the California Highway Patrol in the man’s rescue.
This incident underscores the importance of adhering to safety guidelines while boating, including wearing life jackets and avoiding unsafe positions on a boat. It’s crucial for the boating community to be aware of these guidelines and to ensure that all passengers understand and adhere to them to prevent such accidents in the future.