Off-duty Sussex County officer uses makeshift tourniquet on teen after struck by boat propeller

WEST MILFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ (Passaic County) – An off-duty Sussex County police officer helped an 18-year-old who was struck by a boat propeller on Greenwood Lake in Wests Milford Township last month.

On June 20, at around 6:00 p.m. Vernon Township Police Corporal Steve Rovetto was off-duty and boating on Greenwood Lake and was in the general area of a nearby boat which had a group of young adults aboard, according to Vernon Township Police Chief Daniel Young.

One of the young adults, an 18-year-old male, was in the water and was struck by his own boats’ propeller, Young said.

This caused serious, life-threatening injury to his leg, including broken bones and a significant laceration with heavy bleeding, Young said.

Cpl. Rovetto immediately took action and responded over to assist them. He called 9-1-1 and relayed all vital information to the West Milford Police Dispatcher to initiate an emergency services response, Young said.

Cpl. Rovetto then boarded the boat and utilized his training and experience to improvise a tourniquet out of rope he found on the boat, which helped to control the bleeding, Young said.

Cpl. Rovetto accompanied the young adults boat to the nearby marina and met with first responders.  He then provided incident details to responding police officers to assist with their investigation, Young said.

The 18-year-old male was flown to Hackensack University Medical Center where he received life-saving medical treatment, Young said.

“We commend Cpl. Rovetto on his leadership role and actions during this off-duty incident in another jurisdiction. Job well done,” Young said.