A nine-year-old girl from Jonesboro suffered injuries to her leg when she made contact with a boat propeller while swimming in Norfork Lake.According to the accident report, on Saturday authorities were dispatched to the Big E bluff on Norfork Lake for a report of a nine-year-old being hit with a boat propeller.
Joe Williams, Captain of the Arkansas Game and Fish Regional Office in Calico Rock, states a pontoon was in the water near a spot where a group was jumping off the bluff.
The operator of the boat put it in reverse as they were jumping to prepare for maneuvering the boat from the bank to allow the group to return.
Unbeknownst to the operator, as the rest of the group was returning from one direction the nine-year-old female went in the opposite direction to use the ladder attached to the back of the boat where she made contact with the propeller.
Due to HIPAA laws, the severity of the injuries has not been released. The female is said to have been airlifted to Springfield for treatment where she has since been released and is expected to make a full recovery.
Officials state alcohol was not a factor in the incident.
Williams states the situation was an unfortunate accident and is a reminder to everyone, accidents can occur at any time.
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