Tourist Almost Had Lower Body Cut Off During Vacation in Bahamas (4 photos)

Brent Slough, 42, was on vacation with his family in the Bahamas. The American was snorkeling when he was struck by a boat. His lower body was literally severed by the propeller.





With multiple fractures and deep lacerations, the man was taken to a hospital in Miami, Florida. The father of two from Prosper, Texas was in critical condition.



Brent was snorkeling about 20 feet offshore in Exuma when a speedboat carrying two passengers sped through the water, hitting him and fleeing the scene. His wife Whitney and their two daughters witnessed the terrifying moment.

Brent said it felt like he'd been hit: "Did I just get hit by a boat? My left leg wouldn't move and I felt something weird in my lower body."

"His buttocks were almost completely severed from his legs," his wife recalls.





Despite his injuries, the former Army Ranger was able to swim out of the water. He saw the boat moving away: "I surfaced, looked to the right, and saw two guys in a boat. One of them turned around, but they just kept going."

His eldest daughter swam to him and managed to pull him to shore with an inflatable ring. The victim was taken to a medical center in Nassau, located about 30 minutes away. However, the efforts of local doctors were not enough.

He explained: "The doctor told me, 'Please go to the hospital in Miami, you need to get to the US immediately to get treatment for this injury.'"

Brent was flown back to the US by air ambulance, where he underwent surgery. Whitney left her children in the Bahamas to accompany her husband.



Brent graduated from West Point Academy and served six years as an Army Ranger, including in Iraq. Following the incident, family friends launched a GoFundMe campaign. Already $75,163 of the $80,000 goal has been raised.

"The medical bills are huge, but we are confident that God will help the Slough family through this," the page says.