Woman dies after being hit by boat propeller

SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — A young woman died near Lido Beach over the weekend after authorities say she was hit in the head by a boat propeller.

The incident happened just before 5 p.m. Saturday in the water off Lido Beach. 

FWC officials say 22-year-old Margaret Murray of Erie, Pennsylvania was in the water when the propeller of a 27-foot pontoon hit her in the head. The boat was a rental that was being operated by a 26-year-old man from Bradenton. The pontoon was leaving the area when the incident happened.

Murray was rushed to Sarasota Memorial Hospital where she died later that night. No one else was injured in the incident.

The FWC says it is conducting a thorough investigation into what happened.

“(We) would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ms. Murray,” a spokesman said in a statement.

Friends and family members have set up a GoFundMe account to help raise money for medical bills and funeral needs for Murray’s family. The account has raised more than $23,000 in just two days, surpassing its $15,000 goal.