LAKE TAHOE - Quick response from friends and local emergency personnel on Thursday helped save the life of a Sacramento man whose lower body was ravaged by a propeller after he fell from the back of a boat near Incline Village.
On Saturday, Daniel Stir, 30, remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit of Washoe Medical Center in Reno.
Sherriff's Department officials said Sgt. Mary Kelly and Dep. Joe Fretz responded at 7:45 p.m. to a 911 call of a boating accident near the Hyatt pier.
At the scene they encountered Stir lying on the pier with severely lacerated legs. Stir had been boating all day with five other friends on a 20-foot Cobalt.
Boaters told deputies the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. While preparing to return to shore after drifting some two-and-a-half miles off shore, Stir fell from the back of the craft. One of the boaters said he thought Stir was "joking" when he told his friends he'd hurt his legs.
Pulling Stir from the water revealed deep cuts on both legs and exposed bone.
The boaters said tourniquets were applied to Stir's legs, a 911 call was placed and within 15 minutes Stir was on the shore and being prepared to be taken to the hospital.
The accident is currently under investigation by the Nevada Division of Wildlife. Sheriff's officials said no arrests or citations were made.