Woman From California Dies After Getting Shredded By Boat Propeller In San Andres
A 26-year-old woman has died from her injuries after being shredded by a boat propeller.
On 27 Nov, Natalia Andrea Larranaga Fajardo jumped into the waters off White Wata Beach in San Andres, Colombia, to retrieve her flip-flops.
However, the Colombian woman was sucked into the propeller of a nearby boat and suffered severe bleeding.
Source: Daily Star
Despite undergoing surgery and multiple blood transfusions, she passed away after suffering two cardiac arrests.
Woman suffered serious injuries to buttocks, lower back & legs
According to Daily Star, Natalia was severely injured in her buttocks, lower back, and legs by the propeller.
Mobile phone footage captured by onlookers showed lifeguards carrying her onto a boat.
Following that, they rushed her by jet ski to a hospital on the island.
There, she underwent multiple blood transfusions and surgery to repair her arteries.
In the process, medics had to resuscitate her after she suffered a cardiac arrest.
Once her operation ended, she was warded in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Unfortunately, Natalia suffered a second cardiac arrest the following day (28 Nov) and passed away.
Video of incident showed onlookers screaming in horror
A video of the horrific incident showed onlookers screaming in horror as the waters turned red with blood.
#Pacífico | Familiares y amigos de Natalia Andrea Larrañaga Fajardo, la joven de 26 años que falleció tras sufrir un grave accidente mientras se encontraba en las aguas de la zona White Wata, de #SanAndrés Islas, piden justicia. pic.twitter.com/eCcHFc1ZRC
— RCN Radio Cali (@RCN980cali) November 29, 2022
At the time, 24 tourists and two crew members were onboard the boat carrying the propeller.
In response, Colombia’s maritime authority Dimar has since issued a statement that the vessel has been immobilised.
The statement also revealed that the two crew members are now at the disposal of the Coast Guard of the Colombian Navy as part of the investigation.
At the same time, officials in San Andres have reminded swimmers to stay clear of moving boats.
They also advised swimmers to inform the crew should they wish to enter the water.
Similar boat propeller accident took man’s life in March
Prior to 27 Nov, another man had lost his life in a similar manner after jumping into the water to help his fiancée.
In March this year, 31-year-old Juan Carlos Escotet Alviarez died from injuries caused by a boat propeller.
Source: Instagram
At the time, he and his fiancée were at a fishing competition when the latter fell overboard in North Key Largo, Florida.
According to Daily Mail, Juan’s fiancée avoided serious injury as she was pulled to safety by the crew using a life ring.
Unfortunately, Juan hit the propeller upon entering the water and got caught in its 36-inch blades.
He was the youngest son of Juan Carlos Escotet Rodriguez, a Spanish-Venezuelan billionaire banker.
Closer to home, a Singaporean worker passed away in July after falling off a boat and getting hit by its propeller.
MS News extends our deepest condolences to all the victims’ families and loved ones.
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Featured image adapted from Daily Star and Twitter.
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