A police officer says it is a miracle Jentry Pace is still alive

11:13, Sun, Jul 19, 2026 Updated: 11:17, Sun, Jul 19, 2026

Jentry Pace smiles as he sits in front of a fence

Jentry Pace's mum Jana says her boy wants to come home (Image: The Yard Foundation)

A five-year-old boy was left fighting for his life after he was slashed by a boat propeller on a trip with his family. Jentry Pace was critically injured by the rotor and had to be rescued by his dad, John Pace, from under the vessel on Patoka Lake, Indiana.

When the emergency services arrived at the scene they found Jentry being treated by John, who was yelling for a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. He applied the device, but Jentry made no sound, signalling to police what one officer described as "a pretty bad situation".

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Jentry Pace smiles as he is held by his dad

Jentry has had multiple operations (Image: The Yard Foundation)

Since the harrowing ordeal on July 5, Jentry has had numerous operations at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville, The Sun reports.

Local police said his survival was a miracle and he faces a long road towards making a recovery.

Officer Joe Haywood, who was at the scene, told 14 News: "There’s a saying that our greatest testimonies sometimes come from our greatest trials.

"John and Jentry, his whole family’s going through one of the greatest trials they’ll ever go through in their life.

"And I hope that on the other side of this, there’s a testimony to the goodness of God and one of his great miracles. Because I’m telling you, if you saw what I saw that day, it is a miracle Jentry’s alive."

A fundraiser posted online by The Yard Foundation has raised more than £33,000 ($45,000) to help the family manage financially during Jentry's recovery.

It states that the lad had "pulled past" his initial injuries, but there is still uncertainty over whether he will lose his leg.

The page adds: "Captain Pace and his wife, Jana, are by Jentry’s side every step of the way while also caring for their two daughters during this difficult time.

"The entire Pace family is facing an overwhelming emotional and physical journey together, so let’s pull together some love and financial support while they face this fight."

Jana said on Saturday (July 18) that her son is struggling with the side effects of his medication, but he is ready to go home and be "on his own couch".