A Tarrant County man is facing a long recovery battle after being severely injured in a horrific boating accident at a North Texas lake last weekend.
According to the Azle Fire Department, first responders were called to Twin Points Beach near Eagle Mountain Lake on Saturday, June 22, around 8:45 p.m., where they found a man who had struck a boat propeller.
Azle Fire officials said Kyle Lively, who took the boat out on the lake, was thrown off the back of the vessel and into the water without warning.
As a result, the propellers tore Lively's legs to shreds. He was able to swim to the surface and call for help. After being found by three bystanders, 911 was called, and the individuals helped Lively, putting pressure on his wounds and getting him to shore.
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Due to the severity of the damage to Lively's legs, first responders immediately called air medical when they arrived. Lively was airlifted to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth by Careflite and was considered to be in critical condition.
Lively's family found out just how serious his recovery would be when they showed up at the hospital. For the first time, NBC 5 hears from his loved ones who said the man's road ahead will be difficult.
Kyle Lively’s sister, Marie, told NBC 5 that her brother has always been a caring family man who loves taking his two boys for a ride on his boat.
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“He just finished putting the floors on it 12 hours before the accident,” said Marie Lively.
“And the propellers, he just wasn’t fast enough to swim away from them. And the propellers chopped up his legs.”
Faced with a possible amputation and lengthy rehab, Lively has also been left with another challenge: as a small business owner, he doesn’t have health insurance.
“The right leg is expected to gain full mobility eventually,” said Lively. “We just found out actually that there’s a high percentage that he might actually lose his left leg.”
Despite all these setbacks, loved ones said Kyle Lively has stayed positive, telling them, “Everything happens for a reason.”
“I don’t know what it’s going to cost but I’m assuming $200,000 minimum,” Lively said of her brother’s medical bills.
His family was also grateful, knowing this disaster could have ended much differently.
“But he’s going to be okay, and everything’s going to be okay no matter what happens,” said Marie Lively. “Because he’s alive.”
A GoFundMe for Kyle Lively’s medical bills can be found here.
