Woman hit by boat propeller on trouble-plagued lake loses leg, dies, Arizona rescuers say

A woman hit by a boat propeller died after she lost a leg in an accident on Lake Pleasant, Arizona officials told news outlets.

The single-boat accident took place about 5 p.m. Saturday, May 21, on the lake northwest of Phoenix, Maricopa County sheriff’s officials told The Arizona Republic.

The woman, whose leg was amputated in the accident, was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition, deputies told KNXV. She later died.

The 32-year-old woman jumped into the water to help some children who fell from a tube being towed by the boat, sheriff’s officials told KSAZ. She was run over by the boat, severing her leg.

Early reports mistakenly said the woman was injured in a water skiing accident.

The accident follows several weeks of incidents at the lake, including the May 8 death of an 83-year-old woman who fell off a boat in high winds and two earlier drowning deaths, KPNX reported.

This story was originally published May 22, 2022 at 12:23 PM with the headline "Woman hit by boat propeller on trouble-plagued lake loses leg, dies, Arizona rescuers say."