Julina de Lannoy, 33, from Italy, was enjoying a boat trip with her friends when another vessel crashed into them. She fell overboard and suffered fatal injuries when she was struck by a propeller
A dancer was tragically killed in a freak accident after she was sliced by a propeller after she fell into water.
Julina de Lannoy, 33, was enjoying a girls trip on a boat in Lake Como, Italy, when another vessel struck them. According to her six pals, the boat they had rented was travelling at a leisurely pace on July 12.
A second boat, which was being skippered by a 44-year-old man, suddenly smacked into them head on and Julia was thrown overboard by the force of the collision. She endured a severe leg injury as she got caught by the propeller.
READ MORE: Brit tourist sliced open by boat propeller in Magaluf after ‘heavy drinking session’
Julina was rushed to a nearby dock and was met by emergency responders. They attempted to resuscitate her before handing her over to paramedics. Julina was hospitalised in a critical condition, and doctors were unable to save her.
The man at the helm of the other boat was also taken to the hospital and breathalysed. He was still in hospital the next day, under observation. Police are working to determine if his boat struck the other vessel due to a manoeuvring error.
Locals say this summer is the busiest yet in terms of the number of boats on the lake, driving the risk of accidents to new highs. Julina, originally from Aruba, had been living in Brussels, Belgium, before the crash. She held a senior position at a department store.
She began teaching twerk classes in 2020, first in Luxembourg, and two years later in Brussels, where she founded Caribbean Twerk Brussels. She had also built a following in Amsterdam and, in addition to teaching, performed regularly.
The dancer is survived by her mother, Lisa, and her sister, Kiana. In Aruba, Julina had worked for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls – a leadership organisation for females aged 11-20. A spokesperson said: “Julina exemplified the true values of love, service, and sisterhood. Her joy was contagious, and her presence was a gift to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.”
Both vessels have been impounded as part of the ongoing investigation.