An 11-year-old girl was horrifically killed in a Florida lake when she was thrown from a boat and then struck by its propeller, officials said.
Brooke Mejeur was one of three kids with two adults on a 20-foot pontoon boat on Lake Osborne in Palm Beach County on Saturday when the bow suddenly dropped, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission [FWC].
She was knocked overboard and struck by the propeller in front of the other passengers, the FWC said.
The young girl was pulled from the water and rushed to the shore but died of her injuries. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Brooke Mejeur during this incredibly difficult time,” the agency said as it continued investigating.
Lake Osborne is a popular destination for recreational boaters, fishermen and nature-lovers.
Local Luke Price and Russ Grunaald recalled seeing search crews scour the lake on Saturday.
Price told WPTV they’ve witnessed a handful of boating accidents on the lake over the years, but none as tragic as this.
“We’ve been out in the water since we were born so obviously, we can get to the point where we’re too comfortable and that’s not what you want out here,” Price said.
“Anything can happen, always take precautions,” he added.
