Cruiser Loses Lower Leg and Foot

John Spicher of the Anacortes-based custom Coast 34 Time Piece has been released from a hospital in San Diego following the amputation of the lower part of his mangled left leg.

Spicher’s leg was badly injured as an indirect result of his being a good Samaritan in La Paz. Sources in La Paz report that the operator of a rather large dinghy with a powerful outboard ended up in the water, with the dinghy continuing to careen about. Spicher went to rescue him. The still-running dinghy didn’t appear to be a danger — until it glanced off another boat and headed right toward Spicher. He was hit twice.

Spicher has gotten tremendous support from his many friends, particularly those in the cruising community. If anyone would like to contribute to this young man’s many expenses, his Paypal address is [email protected].

Outboards are equipped with kill switch cords designed to kill the engine the minute the operator goes overboard. Either the operator in this case wasn’t using one or the system failed.