Propeller horror a warning for others
A TASSIE teenager whose arm was sliced to the bone by a boat propeller is part of a new safety campaign targeting boat users.
The social media blitz is a series of videos by Marine and Safety Tasmania, which will share the clips on Facebook and YouTube.
One of the stars is 19-year-old Sarah Sargent who, aged 15, fell off a boat and narrowly avoided having her face minced by propeller blades.
She managed to throw her arms up
to shield her head from the whirling blades, which tore huge strips from her elbow.
The boat was going too fast at the time of her fall and in hindsight, Ms Sargent said, she should have spoken up to avoid such horrific injuries.
“It resulted in me breaking, fracturing and dislocating my elbow because the propeller sliced through it,” she said.
“The biggest thing is to say something if you’re uncomfortable, to ensure you stay safe on the water.”
Ms Sargent was an experienced
boater at the time of her accident, as is Hugo Allison, who also appears in the safety campaign.
Mr Allison, 17, who won the International Cadet world championship with Sam Abel in Italy in 2015, said he was not immune to boating accidents.
He said boat safety should be top of mind for everyone, no matter how experienced. “Safety is a massive priority … being in boats and around the water,” he said. “If you’re in a boat, just like a car, you need to make good decisions.”
MAST chief executive Lia Morris said the new campaign would target boaters of all ages and experience levels.
“MAST is aware that Tasmania has a broad demographic of boaters across the state – from the younger generation like Sarah and Hugo to people who have been boating for years,” Ms Morris said.
“The safety messages Sarah and Hugo deliver reinforce the need to be prepared and not be complacent because things can go wrong on the water.”