Boy, 11, killed after being thrown from father's speedboat and struck by propeller
An 11-year-old boy was killed by his father in a tragic boating accident after he was thrown from a tube and struck by the propeller of the speedboat.
William Feehan was tossed into the water along with his older brother and a friend.
When his father Matthew circled back to pick up the boys, he collided with his own son who was hit by the boat's propeller.
The youngster was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead from his catastrophic injuries.
Victim: William Feehan and two other kids were tubing behind the speedboat when they fell into the water, William was struck by the propeller
Tragic accident: As William's father was circling around to pick the boys up at Bull Shoals Lakes in Arkansas, the child was struck and killed
His 15-year-old brother and 13-year-old friend were uninjured.
The accident took place on Bull Shoals Lakes in Arkansas over the weekend with the Feehan's visiting from their home in MIllington, Tennessee.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Public Information Officer Keith Stephens said alcohol did not appear to be a factor.
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The spokesman said Feehan,52, was at the controls of a rented 21 foot Swift deck boat.
His two sons and a friend were being towed behind on the lake sitting on a rubber tube
After they were displaced into the water Mr Feehan circled round to pick them up and struck his youngest son.
Father: Matthew Feehan, 52, was at the controls of a rented 21-foot Swift deck boat towing his sons behind him
Following the accident, the victim was taken by another boat to the Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock.
The Bull Shoals Fire Department and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene.
The victim was pronounced dead by the Marion County coroner.
The accident is under investigation by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Neighbor, James Harvey, says he witnessed the boating accident as their families were on vacation together.
'It's the most traumatic thing that could happen to a family,' he said. 'The steering on the boat was not properly set up.
'The wheel when he turned right ...The wheel snapped out of his hands, and it flung us all in the boat before doing a 180-degree turn.
And then the next thing we know his son is hurt in the water. "My 15-year-old boy was in the tube with [Matthew's] son and his 14-year-old boy were in the tube.
'We're just thankful that all three kids didn't get hit.'
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