A nine-year-old boy from Hawaii passed away Wednesday, August 17 from injuries suffered in a boating accident in Ocean City, Maryland. The child fell out of the boat and was struck by its propeller, according to law enforcement officials. The child reportedly had been sitting on the bow of a rented pontoon boat with his legs dangling over the water, but lost his balance and fell, ultimately being struck multiple times by the propeller. He was not wearing a lifejacket. The accident occurred just before 3 p.m., and there were 17 people on the pontoon boat at the time of the accident. A group of first responders just happened to be nearby on a tour boat and rushed over to attempt life-saving measures, but they were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead of his injuries after being transported to a nearby medical center. Now, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police is conducting further investigations into the accident, including how many people were supposed to be on the boat at the time and the experience level of the boaters. It’s not yet clear if alcohol use was a factor.

Water safety is crucial

This case marked the 11th boating fatality in Maryland this summer, and law enforcement officials reminded all people who go out on the water to take precautions. All boaters should have life vests, and minors are required by law to wear them at all times. Everyone should have a stable seat in the boat, and no one operating the boat should be consuming alcohol or traveling at excessive speeds. If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident due to someone else’s negligence, be sure to speak with an experienced La Plata personal injury attorney at Mudd, Mudd & Fitzgerald, P.A.