Florida diver loses arm after collision with boat, authorities say
by Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
PALM BEACH, Fla. -
A diver lost an arm Thursday when a boat severed the limb near Palm Beach, Florida. The arm was retrieved by a U.S. Coast Guard crew, authorities said.
According to Palm Beach Fire Rescue, the incident occurred around noon. Several divers were in the water about 200 feet from the shore when a boat came in contact with them on the north end of Palm Beach Island, WPTV reported.
"A boat came along and went right over them. When they pulled him out of the water, he didn't have an arm," Samantha Marulli, of Palm Beach, told the television station. "The fireman used a paddleboard to go out with a bag to get the arm," Marulli said.
The crew of a 45-foot U.S. Coast Guard vessel assisted in turning the severed limb over to onshore first responders, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jason Neiman told WPTV, "The Coast Guard received a report that a Good Samaritan had located a severed arm. A Coast Guard member transferred it to the boat crew and it was transferred to the shore."
The diver was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, the television station reported.