Texas Father, Former Army Ranger, Severely Injured in Bahamas Boat Hit-and-Run While Snorkeling with Family

Brent Slough (right), 42, was nearly sliced in half in a boat hit-and-run incident on the first day of a trip he was on with his wife, Whitney (left), and two daughters, Layla and Emma (middle)

A former Army Ranger from Texas is facing a long and painful recovery after a boat struck him in a hit-and-run incident during a family vacation to the Bahamas. Brent Slough, 42, was snorkeling just 20 feet from shore on June 30 when he was run over by a boat, suffering life-threatening injuries as his wife and daughters looked on in horror.

Slough, who had just arrived on the island with his wife Whitney and their two daughters, Layla and Emma, recalled feeling a violent “thump thump” as the boat ran over him in shallow waters. “My left leg wasn’t functioning, and I felt like something was wrong with my lower body,” he said.

Still conscious, Slough turned to see two men on a boat speeding away. One of them allegedly looked back but failed to stop, ignoring his desperate screams for help. From the beach, 16-year-old Layla witnessed the traumatic incident and immediately swam out to pull her father onto a float and bring him to shore.

Leaving their daughters in the Bahamas, Brent and Whitney traveled to Florida to ensure he received sufficient care - an expense they had to pay out of pocket (pictured: Brent being airlifted to Miami)

Whitney described the devastating aftermath: “His bottom was almost completely detached from his legs.” Slough sustained extensive leg and pelvis fractures, along with a deep open wound that put him at high risk of infection.

Local first responders transported him to two hospitals in the Bahamas before doctors urgently recommended that he be airlifted to the United States for critical care. Slough was flown to a Miami ICU, where he underwent a four-hour surgery. According to his wife, some of the wounds were too deep to stitch and are being treated with wound packing.

Brent (pictured) went to two hospitals in the Bahamas before being advised to travel to Miami for proper medical care

Whitney later returned to the Bahamas to retrieve their daughters and assist authorities in identifying the boat operator. “It’s against the law to be within 200 feet of the shore,” she said. “Brent was only 20 feet out. I just wish they would turn themselves in, but if they don’t, we have to find them.”

Despite the trauma, Whitney expressed gratitude that her husband survived the ordeal. “We’re broken, but we’re still together,” she said.

The financial burden has also been immense. Since the emergency airlift and medical care are not covered by insurance, the family is paying out of pocket. A GoFundMe campaign launched to support Brent’s recovery has already raised more than $71,000. “His upcoming medical needs are great—but we know God will move to make this happen for the Slough family,” the fundraising page states.

Brent Slough is a graduate of West Point and served six years in the U.S. military, including a combat tour in Iraq. The Bahamian authorities continue to search for the boat and individuals responsible for the incident.