Monday, July 7, 2025
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
AN American tourist who narrowly survived a brutal boating accident in Exuma said it is a miracle he survived.
He is urging authorities to improve emergency medical resources on the island, saying he owes his life to the kindness of strangers but fears others may not be so fortunate.
Brent Slough, 42, of Prosper, Texas, was snorkelling just 20 feet from shore at Tar Bay Beach on June 30 when he was struck by a speeding boat, its propeller tearing through his lower body. From his ICU bed at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Mr Slough told The Tribune over the weekend: “It’s a miracle I survived. Another couple of inches and I could easily have died.”
He said the boat driver looked back after hitting him, made eye contact, and sped off. “The guy driving the boat knew that he’d hit me,” he added.
Mr Slough described trying to swim to shore using survival techniques he had learned in the army. “My left leg didn’t work, my left arm hurt, and I felt like something was hanging. I didn’t know if it was my bathing suit or my intestines,” he said.
He called for help until people onshore came to his aid. “I saw some people on the shore, and I said, ‘Help. Help me, please.’ And just kept on screaming, ‘Help.’”
His wife, Whitney, who witnessed the aftermath, said: “I saw the boat speeding along the shore but at first didn’t realise Brent had been hit. There was blood everywhere. It was horrific. He’s so, so lucky to be alive. We thank God for that.”
Their daughters, aged 17 and 9, had been in the water just minutes earlier.
Locals and tourists helped pull Mr Slough from the water and wrapped him in towels to slow the bleeding. With no ambulance available at that hour, he was transported in the back of a pickup truck to the Exuma Healthcare Facility.
Mr Slough praised the efforts of the clinic’s staff, saying: “The care I received from the people there was outstanding. But the system needs more support so no one else has to go through this.”
“One ambulance isn’t enough for the population. The doctors and nurses did the best they could with what they had. But they simply don’t have enough resources.”
The accident happened on the first day of what was meant to be a ten-day family vacation. Mr Slough was later airlifted to Miami after his wife arranged for a private air ambulance. A GoFundMe campaign to assist with medical and transport costs has raised nearly $75,000.
Police have confirmed that two men have been arrested. The two Exuma men, 55 and 21, are accused of grievous harm by negligence.
“I just hope that they get better resources so this doesn’t happen to other people,” Mr Slough said. “And I hope people that are driving boats understand the right distance they’re supposed to be from the beach so that people can safely swim, snorkel, play in the waters and not worry about a boat running them over.”
Comments
AnObserver says...
What possible reason does a boat have to be on plane 20ft from shore? Every day you see this happening with Jet Ski operators returning from PI to the harbour. Where is the port department? Where is the RBDF? How many people need to die due to unqualified irresponsible captains, and the apathy of the relevant authorities?
Posted 7 July 2025, 10:18 a.m. Suggest removal
Porcupine says...
We don't care.
This, like almost every other thing that needs to be corrected, is just talked about.
It almost seems like we are paralyzed.
Unable to solve and correct even the smallest little thing.
We excel at talking. Nothing more.
Yes, he is lucky to be alive.
And, if there were no witnesses, or cameras, would anything have come of it?
Posted 7 July 2025, 11:48 a.m. Suggest removal
Dawes says...
They are working to draft a new law which will be the same as others on the books, but makes it look as though they are doing something. Then once passed no one will follow it. Until the next accident and so on.
Posted 7 July 2025, 1:44 p.m. Suggest removal
tell_it_like_it_is says...
Yep, as usual government will do nothing to correct this problem because they simply don't care.
Posted 7 July 2025, 4:46 p.m. Suggest removal
bogart says...
Good news that the Tourist guest of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas survived the terrible accident and on his way to recovery
On the culprit who ran him over and knowing that it was not a log and made eye contact with the victim and knowingly that humans was involved and sped away in the boat is reprehensible and really bad seaman's conduct. Possible justice solution is to throw the guilty boar driver culprit in the water and run him over with the same involved boat 20 feet from the shore, just kidding.
Posted 7 July 2025, 11:35 a.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
Sir I am happy that you are doing well Thanks be to God,
Posted 7 July 2025, 11:38 a.m. Suggest removal
Porcupine says...
Why did God allow him to get run over in the first place?
I'm sure birdie can explain clearly.
Posted 8 July 2025, 7:05 a.m. Suggest removal
joeblow says...
... pretty sure God had nothing to do with it! Must have been the fault of the inattentive pilot of the boat !
Posted 8 July 2025, 6:01 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
Sure can he and the boaters used their free will. And a accident occurred. We live in a fallen world. God has not established his Kingdom on earth . So we including Albert Einstein the real one Waite on Jesus
Posted 8 July 2025, 12:11 p.m. Suggest removal
Porcupine says...
See birdie, I don't think you are quite as stupid as you lead people to believe.
That is why I think you are a PLP operative.
You always chose your party. before the good of the country.
But, being PLP, maybe you are lacking an average number of brain cells.
Posted 8 July 2025, 12:20 p.m. Suggest removal
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