Equipment Spearfisher shoots self - Homestead, Florida

[DandyDon]

Diver injured after accidentally shooting self with speargun while fishing in Homestead - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

HOMESTEAD, FLA. (WSVN) - A diver in Homestead was injured after making a mistake in the water.According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the diver was<a class="excerpt-read-more"...

wsvn.com

HOMESTEAD, FLA. (WSVN) - A diver in Homestead was injured after making a mistake in the water.

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the diver was fishing at Homestead Bayfront Park when he accidentally shot himself with a speargun when he jumped into the water.

He was airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center in stable condition.

7Skyforce captured him being loaded into a rescue chopper.

 

[The Chairman]

I feel bad for him, but Jeez Louise! Never, ever enter or exit water with a loaded speargun. It's a rookie mistake.

 

[Johnoly]

TV video shows his left inside elbow bandaged up. Didn't look bad, But they life-flighted him??....wonder if because the spear was still in his arm{speculation}
Bad week for spearo's...we lost another one off Ft. Myers freediving Tuesday.

 

[Still Kicking]

I feel bad for him, but Jeez Louise! Never, ever enter or exit water with a loaded speargun. It's a rookie mistake.

It's common practice when chasing fast-moving targets like tuna. There often isn't enough time to load a large tuna gun every jump so guys tend to leave the gun loaded all day.

Guns are stored in bins at the back of the boat with muzzles pointed outboard.

Typically they put the gun in the water first on a float or someone hands the diver the gun (butt first!) after they get in.

It always made me nervous but everyone practices a much higher level of safety awareness so i never saw any potential accidents. But still...6' long five-band tuna cannons are no joke.

 

[The Chairman]

It's common practice

Possibly on a freediving boat. All the Scuba Spearo boats I've been on, it's a huge no-no. I remember a diver handing up a loaded gun and the deck hand tossing it into the ocean. The diver had to go chase it. I don't think I would dive with an operation that did it otherwise.

 

[Scared Silly]

There is no such thing as an accidental shooting. Only negligent shootings.