A FIVE-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being slashed by a boat propeller during a family holiday.

Little Jentry Pace was rescued by his dad from underneath the vessel after being critically injured by its rotor at Patoka Lake, Indiana, on July 5.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and found Jentry being treated by his dad John.

Local cops said: “As I was beaching the boat, I heard John yelling, ‘I need your tourniquet, I need your tourniquet.”

“Jentry was pale in color. And if you’ve ever put a tourniquet on properly, it hurts.

“He applied the tourniquet on Jentry, but he really didn’t make a sound. So I knew we’re in a pretty bad situation.”

Young Jentry has since undergone multiple rounds of surgery at Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville since the terrifying ordeal.

Local police said the boy has “a long road to recovery” and called his survival a “miracle”.

The youngster’s family have said that Jentry may not have survived without the assistance of his quick-thinking father.

Officer Joe Haywood told 14 News: “There’s a saying that our greatest testimonies sometimes come from our greatest trials.

“John and Jentry, his whole family’s going through one of the greatest trials they’ll ever go through in their life.

“And I hope that on the other side of this, there’s a testimony to the goodness of God and one of his great miracles.

“Because I’m telling you, if you saw what I saw that day, it is a miracle Jentry’s alive.”

Over $45,000 has been raised for Jentry as part of a fundraiser for the young boy.

Its description says: “Jentry pulled past his initial injuries, but it is still uncertain whether his leg can be saved.

“He continues to face additional surgeries, followed by what is expected to be a long and challenging recovery.

“Captain Pace and his wife, Jana, are standing by Jentry’s side every step of the way while also caring for their two daughters during this difficult time.

“The entire Pace family is facing an overwhelming emotional and physical journey together, so let’s pull together some love and financial support while they face this fight.”

Jentry’s mum Jana said on Saturday he was “struggling with the medication side effects” but appeared to be becoming more stable.

She said: “They’ve got four days to whip him into shape because, as Jentry keeps telling us, he’s ready to be home and on his own couch.”