Mom-of-two could have both feet amputated after her raft was sucked into prop of reversing yacht
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: A 34-year-old mother of two kids, Lana Batochir, whose feet got severed in a boating accident after she was sucked underneath a 37-foot yacht near Oak Street Beach on August 13, has to get both of her legs amputated.
According to ABC, Batochir and others were on a raft in Playpen near downtown Chicago, a part of Lake Michigan between Oak Street and Ohio Street beaches, when a yacht reversed and backed into their raft around 5 pm. "Everything happened so fast. We were all under his boat within seconds. The boat's propeller struck me, leaving me with unimaginable pain," Batochir said on a GoFundMe page that she launched to raise money for her medical expenses following the horrific weekend accident. Batochir, a mother of two, is hoping to raise $250,000 as she undergoes the amputations, more surgery, a prolonged hospital stay, then rehabilitation and physical therapy.
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Batochir says she has been told by doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital that her legs will have to be amputated below the knees. "It still feels like a nightmare. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to dance, love music, and enjoying life itself with family. My life has completely changed because of one unfortunate tragedy. I still feel very lucky to be alive. I thought I would die. I'm grateful I will be able to hug and kiss my kids, my husband, my family, and my friends. I will get through this and come out stronger with my new lifestyle."
Chicago police marine officers also rescued another woman, Batochir's friend, who had part of her hands severed. CPD officer Raul Echevarria said, "I just saw excessive bleeding on the boat. Right away, I just wanted to apply direct pressure on her hand."
As per CBS, the initial reports have mentioned that the 70-year-old captain of the yacht which hit the raft was trying to anchor down. However, the crain malfunctioned as the captain tried to correct the boat which led to speeding up in reverse instead and then, crashing with the raft.
According to ABC, the US Coast Guard is looking for witnesses who witnessed the accident as the investigation continues with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, as per a press release. So far, no charges or citations have been filed against the boat’s captain.
