A weekend tubing run on Bear Lake turned into a nightmare when a woman in her 30s was hit by a boat propeller, prompting bystanders to sprint in and try to save her life. Onlookers and nearby medics threw on tourniquets at the shoreline, a move local officials say kept her from bleeding to death. She was flown to a regional hospital by medical helicopter, where surgeries led to the amputation of both legs. Family members say she remains in stable condition.
According to KUTV, the Bear Lake County Sheriff's Office said the tourniquets applied by bystanders "ultimately saved her life." FOX13 reports the woman had been tubing behind a boat when she was struck, and that emergency crews stabilized her at the scene before the helicopter flight to the hospital.
How Bystanders And First Responders Kept Her Alive
Witnesses on shore and in nearby boats rushed over, helped secure tourniquets, and worked alongside first responders until a medical helicopter could land, according to local coverage of the sheriff's post. KVNU noted that the sheriff's office praised the "swift coordination" of local responders and other agencies that stepped in during what it described as a chaotic weekend on the lake. Officials credited the quick first aid and rapid air transport with keeping the patient stable long enough to reach hospital care.
Deputies Juggle Crises Around The Lake
The sheriff's office was already stretched thin that day, handling other high-priority emergencies, including a sinking boat where all passengers were safely removed and a child found locked in a vehicle in 90-degree heat, East Idaho News reported. Officials said those rescues were successful and did not report any additional severe injuries in those incidents.
Officials Warn Boaters As Summer Crowds Pack The Lakes
State rangers and park officers are again urging swimmers and boaters to wear U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets and to stay well clear of running propellers after a string of summer water emergencies, according to KSL. Rangers note that life-jacket loaner stations are available at many state water parks and say that fast, basic first aid at the scene can be critical in severe boating accidents.
The Bear Lake County Sheriff's Office says the incident remains under investigation and that it has not released further details about the boat operator or whether any charges might follow, according to KUTV. We'll update this story as authorities release more information.
