Tourist's gruesome boating death as witnesses scream in horror

A young woman has suffered a gruesome death after being shredded by a boat propeller while trying to retrieve her thongs.

Natalia Andrea Larranaga Fajardo, 26, bled profusely after sustaining horrific injuries to her legs, buttocks, and lower back in the waters off White Wata Beach in San Andres, Colombia.

Mobile phone footage taken in the wake of the accident shows how nearby boaters screamed in terror at the unfolding scene.

Natalia sitting on a boat and witnesses screaming at the scene after she was hit by a propeller.
Natalia was hit by a propeller of a boat when diving to retrieve her thongs that fell in the water. Source: CEN/Australscope

According to reports, the holidaymaker from Cali had jumped into the water to retrieve her thongs on November 27 when the tragedy occurred. Bleeding heavily, she was taken by jet ski to a hospital on the island, where she underwent multiple blood transfusions and surgery to repair her arteries.

Medics also had to resuscitate her after she suffered a cardiac arrest. After the operation, she was admitted to the ICU, but she suffered another cardiac arrest — this time fatal — in the early hours of the following morning.

According to reports, the boat involved in the incident was carrying 24 tourists and two crew members.

Natalia Andrea Larranaga Fajardo, 26,  poses in undated photo. Source: CEN/Australscope
The 26-year-old died the following morning. Source: CEN/Australscope

"The vessel has been immobilised and its two crew members have been placed at the disposal of the relevant authorities by the Coast Guard of the Colombian Navy as part of the due process of investigation," Dimar — Colombia's maritime authority — said in a statement.

Officials in San Andres reminded swimmers to keep clear of moving boats and to notify crew if entering the water.

Chilling images taken moments before woman's boat death

Earlier this year, a 22-year-old woman died after a wave "washed over" the boat she was on, pushing her overboard. Just hours before the tragic accident, Lindsey Partridge had sent her friend a smiling video and spoke with her family.

"They were having fun and they were really excited and that was around 12 o’clock and at 12.15, she died," her father said, adding that Lindsey’s boyfriend jumped into the water to try and save her but she had appeared to have suffered a fatal head injury.

CEN/Australscope

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