Lake Charles Man Killed by Boat Propeller on Calcasieu River

Danny Harrison, a 71-year-old man from Lake Charles, Louisiana, died after being struck by his own boat's propeller on the Calcasieu River. While operating a 16-foot boat equipped with a 40-horsepower hand tiller outboard motor, Harrison hit an object in the water and was thrown overboard. The unmanned boat continued to circle before the propeller fatally struck him. Although Harrison was wearing a life jacket, investigators believe he was not wearing the legally required kill switch lanyard, which is designed to shut off the engine if the operator is ejected. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division is leading the ongoing investigation into the incident. This tragedy underscores the critical importance of safety devices like kill switch lanyards for boaters.