First Responders Save Green Country Teen Who Lost Part Of His Leg In Boating Accident

Quick action by first responders is being credited with saving the life of a teenager, who had part of his leg severed by a boat prop, on the Fourth of July. It happened in the popular Dripping Springs cove area, a few miles east of Disney on Grand Lake.

Investigators said, without a doubt, the quick action by first responders, including a man with combat medic training, saved the victims life.

Dripping Springs is a calm relaxing place on most days, but on holiday weekends it is jam packed with people. That was the case on the Fourth of July when a terrible accident nearly killed a 16-year-old boy.

"You feel for the young man and his family and whatever is before him now," said Justin Alberty with the Grand River Dam Authority.

The boy was on the lake with friends and as he swam, a boat backed into him, severing part of his leg. He was immediately pulled out of the water and taken to a private dock.

Chief Richard Wright, with Lakemont Shores Fire, said, "Life can change in an instant for any of us, so live everyday like it means something."

A man at the lake, who has training as a combat medic, immediately applied a tourniquet to slow down the bleeding. Other first responders said it kept the boy from bleeding to death.

"He was all business. He was in his mode that he'd been trained to do, and he was all business," Wright said.

Alberty said, "Understood this kind of trauma and actually had dealt with this kind of trauma before."

The investigation by GRDA police is still underway, and since the victim is a minor, they're unable to release much information at this point.

Blood samples were taken from the driver of the boat to test for any alcohol or drugs, which is routine.

The injured teen was flown to a hospital in Joplin, and later to a hospital in Kansas City.

"It's unfortunate that he lost part of his leg, but he's with us today," said Alberty.

GRDA police investigators will interview the accident victim in a Kansas City hospital later this week. That will give them more information and a better picture of what happened on the Fourth of July.