[hermantheshocker]

Propeller injuries resulting from nautical accidents can be fatal. According to a previous report, the frequency of propeller accidents is greater than one in every 20 boating accidents, and the fatality rate in propeller accidents is 15–23%. The sharp blades of propellers rotating at high speeds cause multiple and serious injuries such as deep lacerations, chop wounds, bone fractures, and mutilation of extremities.


Case 1

A 60-year-old man who was fishing on his small boat was thrown overboard when his boat collided with a large boat. He was run over by the propeller of the large boat, which was 80 cm (31.5") in diameter and had three blades. The length and width of each blade were 41 cm and 26 cm (16.14" and 10.24"), respectively. One of the blades was slightly bent and had scratches. When the two boats collided, the large boat had a speed of approximately 10 knot/h (18.52 km/h, or 11.51 mph).


Fig.1 Chop wounds evenly distributed on the right side. Multiple parallel chop wounds observed on the corpse.


Fig.2 Mutilated lower limb.

The corpse showed multiple parallel lacerations on the right side, and the right leg was amputated at the middle of the thigh. The lacerations were evenly distributed on the right side of the body and involved fractures of the ribs, scapula, right humerus, and femur. A mutilated part of the lower limb, the part below the ankle, was retrieved from the sea. However, the part of the limb from the knee to the ankle that was amputated around the knee could not be found.


Fig.3 Propeller of the boat involved.

Internal examination revealed crush injuries on the right lung and liver. The right side of the thoracic wall was damaged, exposing the right thoracic cavity. The weights of the two lungs were 550 g and 500 g, and the bronchi contained no foam or fluid. The heart contained little blood, and the main organs were exsanguinated. The cause of death was massive hemorrhage due to propeller injuries.


Case 2

A 53-year-old diver who was afloat at sea and waiting for a pickup boat collided with a boat and was hit by its propeller. The driver of the boat did not see him. The speed of the boat at the time of the accident is not known. The propeller of the boat was 60 cm (23.6") in diameter and had three blades. Although the blades were not damaged, a piece of the victim’s wet suit was found on the shaft of the propeller.


Fig.4 Chop wound on the head. Multiple parallel chop wounds observed on the corpse.


Fig.5 Propeller of the boat.

The corpse had multiple parallel chop wounds on the right side, which were evenly distributed and involved fractures of the ribs, pelvis, and right lower limb. The chop wounds exposed the abdominal and thoracic cavities. The weights of the two lungs were 210 g and 320 g, and a small amount of fluid without foam was found in the bronchi. His face showed a deep chop wound from the forehead to mandible that was 30 cm (11.8") in length. The chop wound exposed the cranial cavity, and the left hemisphere of the brain was missing. The weight of the brain remnants was 750 g. The cause of death was brain damage due to the chop wound on the head inflicted by the propeller blades.


Case 3

A motorboat collided with a 22-year-old scuba-diving instructor who was floating on the surface of the sea. She and her companion were about to dive underwater when the accident occurred. The victim was not seen after the accident, and the marine police later recovered her corpse from the bottom of the sea. The propeller of the motorboat was 46 cm (18.1") in diameter and had three blades. The blades were bent and had scratches. The speed of the boat at the time of the accident is not known.


Fig.6 Chop wound on the corpse.


Fig.7 Open fracture of the skullcap.


Fig.8 Propeller of the boat involved.

The corpse had a severe deep chop wound with a length of 24 cm (9.45") on the forehead. The wound was associated with a skull fracture that had caused the cranial cavity to be exposed. The brain was severely damaged and weighed 1280 g, and the bilateral frontal lobe was missing. Slight subarachnoid hemorrhage and coagulated hematoma were observed in both cerebral ventricles. The weights of the two lungs were 380g and 480g, and the bronchi contained no foam and a small amount of fluid. There were no injuries on the body, except on the head. The cause of death was brain damage due to the chop wound on the head inflicted by the propeller blades.

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This post is for educational purposes only and is nonprofit. Under Section 107 of the US Copyright Act of 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. OP is not a medical expert. No copyright infringement intended. This post does not encourage or glorify violence/harassment. Images might have been upscaled and enhanced. Text might have been shortened and simplified/reorganized for online view.

[Watcher===]

A terrible way to go. Reminds me of the account of the sinking of the Britannic, the Titanic's sister ship which hit a sea mine. Men lowered in the lifeboats were mashed by the propellers and the whole story was a crapshow from start to end. Fortunately only crew were on board.

[William May]

Then there are the scuba divers who have been run through dam powerplant turbines.

[Lrrr]

Herman, you are quickly becoming my favorite contributor

[HiBypass]

Originally Posted by William May ↗

Then there are the scuba divers who have been run through dam powerplant turbines.

one time i was watching a documentary about hydro electric dams. they were showing all the tunnels and turbines, plus a huge chamber that fills with water to prevent a water hammer from happening. everything about it gave me the heebie-jeebies, large volumes of water in relatively tight spaces have tremendous amounts of force, and then theres also the meat mincers at the end.

I'd like to see photos from that, but i have a sneaky suspicion theres not much of the remains left to see

[HiBypass]

I like boating a jet skiing but i've been paranoid about this before, especially while climbing onto the back of an inboard boat while wake surfing. Those large screws have high torque and low rpm.
Even the small propellers powered by a V6 will do a ton of damage at idle speed.

[Brainplague]

I live a block away from the Colorado River. With all the booze, pot, crack, meth & other subs that these people take, I am always surprised at the end of the summer season that there weren't more accidents like these.

I have to think the victims couldn't get out of the way in time. Otherwise they must be idiots that never gave the bigger vessel the right of way.

[redrum217]

Originally Posted by Lrrr ↗

Herman, you are quickly becoming my favorite contributor

Agreed! Always get excited when I see he's got a new post up.

[Brynjar]

Humpback whales are frequently killed by the propeller on cargo ships. From time to time, we get whales that have washed up on shores with horrific propeller cuts.

[Meridian]

Makes me think of poor Kirsty MacColl