Woman killed after going overboard pontoon boat, struck by propeller at Florida river, FWC says

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. - Florida officials said a woman was killed after she went overboard while on a boat and was struck by the boat's propeller, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Officials responded to the Ocklawaha River near Nelson's Fish Camp in Marion County around 1:30 p.m. Sunday after receiving reports of a boating incident involving a pontoon. 

According to an FWC report, two adults and a child were "bow riding", a term describing passengers sitting with their legs dangling over the boat's side. he boat operator informed officials that he was not moving at an excessive speed.

At some point, he noticed the woman was missing and brought the boat to a halt. 

The boat operator and passengers turned around and spotted the woman floating in the water, FWC said.

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That's when the boat operator turned the vessel around, and he and an occupant jumped into the water to retrieve the woman.

FWC said she had injuries that were consistent with being struck by the boat's propeller. 

The woman died en route to the hospital, the FWC said. She was identified as Wendy Mooney, 50, of Wesley Chapel. 

The FWC said eight people were on the pontoon when she went overboard. 

The FWC said the woman's death is part of an active investigation and no other information was immediately available. "The FWC expresses their deepest condolences to the victim’s loved ones," the FWC said in a statement.