Man who lost leg in Lake Nasworthy boating mishap recovering, credits friends for his life

SAN ANGELO — Jeremy Armenta dangled his feet in the water as he chatted with friends and enjoyed a sunny day at the lake.

All around him, campers and boaters were celebrating the Fourth of July at Lake Nasworthy.

But late that afternoon, Armenta's life changed.

While sitting on the back of the boat — a spot he has taken many times during the past eight years of boating — Armenta and another friend were sucked into the water when the driver, Ron Jenkins, put the boat in reverse as he neared the bay to pick up more friends. 

Armenta's leg was severed by the boat's propeller.

When he was pulled out of the water, Dustin Gilbert and Jeremy Gilbert worked fast to find a way to stop the bleeding. They used towels, shirts and a purse strap to makeshift a tourniquet.

“I credit my life to their fast action to get a tourniquet on,” Armenta said.

He was rushed to a hospital and put in an induced coma for three days while he underwent surgery and recovery.

More:San Angelo man in stable condition after gruesome boating accident

More:San Angelo man's severed leg found in no-wake zone at Lake Nasworthy

Five months later, he doesn’t dwell on the accident. From the moment he woke up, he has been working on being a better person.

Soon after his hospital stay, Armenta went to Abilene for in-house physical and occupational therapy. He was taught how to get around and exercises to maintain his strength.

“They were all about me and restored my faith in humanity that these perfect strangers cared that much,” Armenta said.

Adjusting to life after Lake Nasworthy

From renovating his home with handicapped accessibility, such as slide chair for the shower and handlebars, to taking him to doctor visits, his friends and family came out to help as well. He also got a new pickup, which he drives with his left leg, with doors that open toward each other so he can put his wheelchair in the back.

“I didn't want to be woe is me and all that. I wanted to figure out and people were doing things for me and I would snap at them, say, 'stop',” Armenta said. “I was thinking, how am I going to live my life now so I can just keep going forward.”

Armenta didn’t have health insurance at the time of the accident. A few weeks ago, he was approved for a program through the Texas Workforce Commission to help pay for a prosthetic, which he will get fitted at West Texas Rehab.

Armenta is excited to get the prosthetic and learn how to get around. He worked as an electrician before the accident, and hopes to get back on the job.

“I’ve always been real active so I'm ready to get that prosthetic, so I can go do more things and I miss work,” he said. “I'm probably the only guy in the world who misses work so much.”

He also can’t wait for summer to go boating again.

“It didn't sour me from boating, but I'll probably be that guy that says, 'Hey, don't get off the boat until that motor's off completely.’”

In September, his friends hosted a fundraiser for him. The community pulled together more than $17,000 for his hospital visits and medication.  

“To be honest, I didn't know that many people even liked me,” he said. “I am persevering and I just can't be more thankful to my family and my friends, they helped me every step of the way.”

It’s still a long road for Armenta before life is back to normal, but he has a smile on his face and a friend or two to help along the way.

As for the driver of the boat, Armenta doesn't fault him for the incident. In fact, they remain close friends. 

"It was a freak accident and I don't dwell on it. I just keep moving forward," Armenta said. 

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