An American family’s getaway to the Bahamas turned into the holiday from hell after a father of two was almost sliced in half by a boat and left for dead.

Brent Slough, a former North Texas army ranger, was snorkelling in waters off the tropical island of Exuma on June 30 when he was struck by a boat.

The vessel’s propeller sliced in to the lower half of his body, leaving him with deep wounds, a fractured pelvis and leg.

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In a devastating turn, the boater’s sped off leaving him seriously injured and screaming for help.

The Texan’s wife, Whitney Slough, recounted the moment the terrifying ordeal unfolded in front of her and their two daughters, Layla and Emma.

“We hear Brent screaming, ‘Help me, help me, help, me’ We didn’t realise that he was struck by the boat,” she told Dallas media outlet WFAA.

“The propeller hit him right underneath the buttocks and the legs and just sliced him there.”

Slough was pulled from the water by Whitney, other family members and good Samaritans before being rushed to a nearby hospital.

He was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami the following day, where he underwent hours-long surgery.

Whitney said she was hopeful the people responsible will be found and brought to justice.

“We’re lucky that he’s alive,” she said.

“There’s no way that they should be able to get away with this.”

A GoFundMe has been launched to raise funds to help pay for the steep medical bills.

Bahamian authorities are searching for the boat and crew responsible.