MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A 21-year-old Virginia man who was rescued after falling from a boat and into its propellers is speaking about the terrifying incident.
It happened back in March during spring break off Miami Beach.
Video of first responders rescuing Vikram Dayanathan was shared by Local 10 News earlier this week.
“When the water was a little bit choppy, I lost my balance and hit the railing, but the railing completely snapped,” Dayanathan explained.
He said after he fell, he couldn’t get out of the water and kept getting cut up by the propeller.
“The strength of the propeller was really, really powerful and it immediately sucked me in,” he said.
Dayanathan said he was in and out of consciousness and fearing that he would lose a limb, or worse.
He was able to swim to a nearby boat for help and first responders arrived soon after.
While Dayanathan suffered several injuries to his right arm that required nearly 80 staples, he has recovered and is grateful, with a fresh outlook on life.
“It’s definitely a genuine miracle I’m here,” he said. “You only get one life to live and it can be taken away from you in a flash.”