An 11-year-old girl tragically lost her life while boating on Lake Osborne in Palm Beach County this past Saturday, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A preliminary investigation found that a sudden drop in the boat's bow caused her to be thrown overboard, where she was struck by the boat's propeller.
WPTV reports that recovery efforts were swift, but the child succumbed to her injuries after being pulled from the water. Luke Price stated, "We just figured at first that they were just doing boating exercises, practicing on responding to emergencies, but now to hear that that’s what happened, it's very tragic."
On the day of the incident, the boat carrying the girl, two adults, and three other minors was reportedly traveling smoothly when the unexpected event occurred, as reported by FOX 29. The boating community, aware of Lake Osborne's history of accidents, expressed concern; Price noted, "Anything can happen, always take precautions."
The FWC is investigating the incident's cause and potential safety measures for boating on Lake Osborne.
