Freak Death by Swordfish in Hawaii

[dberry]

This probably isn't the correct forum, but it didn't quite seem right to post it in the Hunting forum either. Or maybe not on SB at all, since he wasn't in SCUBA. But he was in the water doing an activity plenty of SB reader seem to enjoy (both with and without regs in their mouths.)

More complete story here or the Washington Post website:

Swordfish kills fisherman in Hawaii - CNN.com


Partial summary:

Randy Llanes, 47, was fishing Friday morning in the Honokohau harbor in Kailua-Kona, on the “Big Island” of Hawaii, when he spotted a swordfish near his boat. Staff members from Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources’ recreation division and other witnesses said he dove into the water with his speargun and speared the 40-pound swordfish, according to the department.


It tried to escape and got tangled in a mooring anchor, according to KHON-TV, and its 3-foot-long bill punctured Llanes in the chest. It’s still unclear exactly how the fish did it. Some reports said the fish turned, sped toward him and stabbed him. Others said his line got caught on a buoy, which “impaled it” into him.

-Don (a different Don - not the Dandy-One.)

 

[DandyDon]

I was hesitant to post this one too, but - he was an impromptu breath hold spear fisherman, and he was killed the same way other spear fishermen could have been. Still a lesson here, yes.

 

[Islamaradadave]

Hawaii man impaled, killed by swordfish - CBS News

 

[TotDoc]

I was in Kona when this happened, and the accident occurred at the harbor all the dive charters I took when in and out of. I guess the guy was a really well regarded fishing boat captain. All the boats there were flying marlin flags at half mast the whole week. Pretty somber mood going on there, for obvious reasons. The accident as I was told was just bad luck with the fish on the line wrapping around the moorings and coming back at the guy.

 

[Hatul]

Fish self defense.

 

[Asteve]

It seem about 5 to 10 years ago I remember reading a women was speared while diving, watching swordfishs feeding on a baitball, so it does happen.