Crime & Safety

Tangled Waterski Rope Causes Serious Hand Injury

The Hamilton man seriously injured on Saturday lost his hand in a waterskiing accident.

The man airlifted in a medical helicopter from Hamilton on Saturday seriously injured his hand in what was planned to be his last waterskiing outing of the season.

Hamilton Police Sgt. Stephen Trepanier said James Bishop, 47, was injured when a waterski rope got tangled on his hand and a portion of his left hand was severed.

The accident happened on Chebacco Lake. Norris returned to his Norris Road home, off Gregory Island Road, where first responders arrived to treat him after getting a 911 call at 2:46 p.m.

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Trepanier lauded the effort of the first responders from the Hamilton Fire Department, who helped get the hand, which was recovered, to go with Bishop to a Boston hospital.

“They did an outstanding job,” Trepanier said.

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Bishop was conscious and alert as he was put in an Lyons ambulance and taken to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where a Boston Medflight helicopter took him to Boston.

Trepanier and Officer Michael Wetson and the state Environmental Police investigated the accident, since it occurred on the lake.

The boat was operating properly and the required spotters were in place at the time of the accident, Trepanier said.

“It was just an unfortunate accident,” Trepanier said. “It was (planned to be) his last ski day.”


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