Boy, 5, miraculously survives being hit by boat propeller while at lake with family, loved ones say

NEWBURGH, Ind. (WFIE/Gray News) - A young boy remains at the hospital more than a week after being injured in a boating accident.

Jentry Pace, 5, was with his family at Patoka Lake on July 5 when a boat’s propeller hit him.

The boy’s father, John Pace, pulled Jentry from the water and brought him to shore.

First responders said Jentry’s dad had to get him out from underneath the boat, with the 5-year-old suffering life-threatening injuries.

A conservation officer also assisted at the scene.

“As I was beaching the boat, I heard John yelling, ‘I need your tourniquet, I need your tourniquet,’” Officer Joe Haywood said. “Jentry was pale in color. And if you’ve ever put a tourniquet on properly, it hurts. He applied the tourniquet on Jentry, but he really didn’t make a sound. So I knew we’re in a pretty bad situation.”

First responders worked quickly to get Jentry to an area hospital.

“It’s always worse when it’s a kid. And with this, tensions were high. You could tell, just with the severity of the wounds, what we were seeing; every minute was pressing and had to count,” Conservation Officer Tanner Doane said.

Jentry is currently at the Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville and has had to undergo several surgeries.

“He knows that he has a long road to recovery, but he has two absolutely wonderful parents. He has two lovely sisters,” Ohio Township Battalion Chief Chris Watson said.

John Pace is also a captain with the Ohio Township Fire Department, and even with the quick actions at the scene, his family said they were told Jentry might not survive.

But Jentry has pulled through, and his loved ones say his condition is improving.

“There’s a saying that our greatest testimonies sometimes come from our greatest trials. John and Jentry, his whole family’s going through one of the greatest trials they’ll ever go through in their life. And I hope that on the other side of this, there’s a testimony to the goodness of God and one of his great miracles. Because I’m telling you, if you saw what I saw that day, it is a miracle Jentry’s alive,” Haywood said.

There are several fundraisers and events planned to help the Pace family, as well as a website for donations.