Jentry Pace was critically injured while he and his family spent time at Patoka Lake, and it’s currently unclear whether his leg can be saved
Credit: The Yard Foundation
NEED TO KNOW
- A 5-year-old boy was slashed by a boat’s propeller while he and his family were at a lake in Indiana
- Jentry Pace was critically injured during the July 5 incident
- “Jentry pulled past his initial injuries, but it is still uncertain whether his leg can be saved,” his loved ones said
A young boy was critically injured during a family trip to a lake in Indiana.
Jentry Pace was slashed by a boat’s propeller while at Patoka Lake in Newburgh on Sunday, July 5. According to local outlet 14 News, his father, Captain John Pace of the Ohio Township Fire Department, had to rescue him from underneath the vessel.
Despite a conservation officer also assisting at the scene, 5-year-old Jentry sustained life-threatening injuries.
Credit: Getty
“As I was beaching the boat, I heard John yelling, ‘I need your tourniquet, I need your tourniquet,’ ” Officer Joe Haywood told 14 News.
“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,” Haywood continued.
Since the incident, Jentry has undergone treatment and multiple surgeries at the Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville.
Ohio Township Battalion Chief Chris Watson told 14 News that Jentry has a “long road to recovery.”
His family added to the outlet that Jentry might not have survived without his father’s quick thinking at the scene.
Credit: The Yard Foundation
“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,” Haywood told 14 News.
“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,” he added.
Over $45,000 has been donated to a fundraiser set up to support Jentry’s family amid the child’s ongoing recovery.
“Jentry pulled past his initial injuries, but it is still uncertain whether his leg can be saved,” the fundraiser’s description reads. “He continues to face additional surgeries, followed by what is expected to be a long and challenging recovery.”
“Captain Pace and his wife, Jana, are standing by Jentry’s side every step of the way while also caring for their two daughters during this difficult time,” the statement on the crowdfunding page continues. “The entire Pace family is facing an overwhelming emotional and physical journey together, so let’s pull together some love and financial support while they face this fight.”
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Jentry’s mom, Jana Pace, has been sharing frequent updates about his condition on Facebook.
In an update shared on Saturday, July 18, Jana said the 5-year-old is “struggling with the medication side effects,” but his condition appears to be steadily improving.
“They’ve got four days to whip him into shape because, as Jentry keeps telling us, he’s ready to be home and on his own couch,” Jana wrote, referencing her son’s doctors.
The Ohio Township Fire Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Saturday, July 18.
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