Father-of-two loses leg after boat propeller shatters it, while ‘drunk’ driver arrested for backing into him

A father of two lost his left leg after it was shattered during a horrific boating accident when a drunk driver hit him on a North Texas lake.

Kyle Lively was enjoying a night boating with his two young children last Saturday night on Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth, Texas, when he was thrown from the back of the boat “unexpectedly” into the water.

Azle Fire Department officials said first responders were called around 8:45 p.m. where they found a man struck by a boat propeller. NBC DFW reported.

The boat’s driver was identified as Kelly McCandless, who was arrested and charged with “boating while intoxicated.” According to Tarrant County Jail records, People reported.

Lively’s thighs and knees were shattered by the boat’s spinning metal propeller blades, but she miraculously managed to pull herself to the surface of the water using her arms and her will to live, her family said.

Three good Samaritans pulled him to safety, tied a tourniquet around his legs and called 911. He was airlifted to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, a level one trauma center.

Since the incident, Lively has undergone numerous surgeries to save her leg, but due to the severity of her injuries, doctors gave her a grim prognosis.

Lively’s right leg was also injured but was stable.

On Saturday morning, he gave an update on his prognosis and told loved ones that he had decided to go ahead and “amputate” his left leg, expressing how difficult it was to make a decision that would change his life.

“There’s no way to save it,” he said. “I lost 10 inches of femur and upper quadrant muscle,” he said.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a few days now,” he said.

‘I have asked God to guide me through this whole process.’

In the post, he expressed his gratitude and said he was “completely overwhelmed with all the people who reached out” and all the “love” shown to him.

“It’s a lot to process and take in, but thank you for the energy and positive thoughts,” he said.

Lively’s sister, Marie Lively, told local news outlet NBC DFW how selfless her brother is and a devoted family man.

“Those of you who know my brother Kyle know he is a great man. One of the best out there. A hard worker, a kind soul, a funny guy, and most of all, a devoted father to his two children,” he said in a GoFundMe he set up.

Lively shared the long recovery ahead and mounting medical expenses as her brother is a small business owner and does not have health insurance.

“Doctors are hopeful that he will be able to walk again and we know that he will,” she said. “We also know that this will be a long recovery, an uphill battle and a huge financial struggle for Kyle and his family.”

“I don’t know how much it’s going to cost, but my guess is a minimum of $200,000,” Marie said.

‘Kyle owns his own elevator inspection company; However, he obviously cannot work at this time, which adds more stress and financial strain,” he stated.

‘Therefore, we humbly ask for your help. No donation is too big or too small and ALL money raised will go towards Kyle’s medical bills and family,’ she said.

She outlined some of the preliminary expenses she will face, including hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, mortgage, housing bills and cost of living.

She was thrilled to learn that the near-fatal event could have had a different ending.

“He’s going to be okay and everything’s going to be okay no matter what,” she said sadly. “Because he’s alive.”

Starting Saturday GoFundMe Has raised more than $35,000 of its $50,000 goal.