Woman Severely Injured by Boat Propeller While Trying to Board a Vessel in Peconic Bay

Late Saturday afternoon, near the popular launch ramp at Peconic Bay in Westhampton, a routine scene turned chaotic when a woman attempting to climb aboard a small fishing boat was struck by the spinning propeller.

According to witnesses, the woman—identified only as a resident of the nearby area—was climbing a ladder attached to the side of the boat when the motor, which had apparently not been fully shut down, whirred back to life. In a split second the propeller caught her leg, leaving a deep laceration that bled profusely.

“I heard a scream and saw her stumble backward, clutching her calf,” said Mark Dalton, a local boater who was on the dock at the time. “The water was still, and suddenly there was this shocking splash. It was a nightmare.”

Within minutes, the Suffolk County Police Department, the Coast Guard, and several EMS units arrived on the scene. First responders quickly applied a tourniquet to staunch the bleeding and escorted the victim onto a rescue boat for transport to the hospital.

She was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where doctors reported that the injury, though serious, was not life‑threatening. As of the latest update, the woman remains in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery after surgery to repair the damage.

Police are now investigating why the boat’s engine was still engaged. “We’re speaking with the boat’s owner and any other witnesses to determine whether proper safety protocols were followed,” said Sgt. Luis Ramirez of the Westhampton Beach Police Department.

The incident has sparked concerns among local anglers and recreational boaters, who say it underscores the importance of double‑checking engine shutdown procedures before anyone climbs aboard.

Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen the incident, or who has information about the boat’s maintenance history, to contact the Westhampton Beach Police Department at (555) 123‑4567.