Stingray jumps in boat injures man

[Central Fla]

POSTED: 7:37 am EDT October 19, 2006
UPDATED: 8:59 am EDT October 19, 2006

LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla. -- A man was in critical condition Thursday morning, a day after a stingray jumped onto his boat and stabbed him in the chest, leaving a foot-long barb stuck in him, authorities said.

James Bertakis, 81, of Lighthouse Point, was boating with his grown granddaughter and her friend Wednesday afternoon when the rare attack occurred. The women were able to steer the boat back to Bertakis' home where they called authorities.

"It was a freak accident," said Lighthouse Point acting fire Chief David Donzella. "It's very odd that the thing jumped out of the water and stung him. We still can't believe it."

http://www.wftv.com/news/10110202/detail.html

 

[matts1w]

I see eagle rays jump quite often in Big Carlos Pass, Fort Myers Beach. Some are easily have a 3-4 feet wing span. The first time I saw it I couldnt believe it, then did some reseach and found it is quite common. In fact, several boaters have intersected with a flying eagle ray before this most recent incident.

 

[Hank49]

Ealge rays are jumpers. I've seen them do this quite often in the lagoon and in the sea. I've heard one reason is to shake off the remoras that may be bothering them. Or, they're just playing? It may be that the ray was jumping and the boat happened to be passing by right at that moment.

 

[Scuba Monster]

The reports give the appearance that the stingray "attacked" him. I heard this morning that the ray jumped into the boat and the Grandfather tried to pick it up. I don't know what I would do in his situation, but picking up a stingray doesn't sound like a viable option.

 

[Hank49]

The reports give the appearance that the stingray "attacked" him. I heard this morning that the ray jumped into the boat and the Grandfather tried to pick it up. I don't know what I would do in his situation, but picking up a stingray doesn't sound like a viable option.

It is a dangerous situation. It may be cold hearted, but I'd hold its tail down with something (a stick, life jacket, fishing pole, oar) and whack it off...then throw it overboard. The main thing is to get it out of the boat.

 

[erparamedic]

It is a dangerous situation. It may be cold hearted, but I'd hold its tail down with something (a stick, life jacket, fishing pole, oar) and whack it off...then throw it overboard. The main thing is to get it out of the boat.

I'm not sure what I would do in that situation either.... I would think, though, that holding the tail down, could be quite hard to do and dangerous. However, I'm not sure that holding the tail down is any more dangerous than letting it flop around the boat. Also, is trying to hold it down even a feasable thing... not sure exactly how strong that particular ray is. It's a hard call.

As for sounding "cold hearted", I'm not so sure it is... What happens to the rays if you whack off the tail? Do they die? Do they grow another tail? I dunno.

(Please don't flame me for this!) I'm all about conservation, sea life, "no-touch", and all that other happy crap ( ), but if it's a "me or the ray" kinda situation, then of course, I'm gonna off the ray! Cold-hearted? I don't think so! Would I reflect on it later and think, "man, I wish I wouldn't have had to do that!" Of course, I would.

 

[Hank49]

I'm not sure what I would do in that situation either.... I would think, though, that holding the tail down, could be quite hard to do and dangerous. However, I'm not sure that holding the tail down is any more dangerous than letting it flop around the boat. Also, is trying to hold it down even a feasable thing... not sure exactly how strong that particular ray is. It's a hard call.

As for sounding "cold hearted", I'm not so sure it is... What happens to the rays if you whack off the tail? Do they die? Do they grow another tail? I dunno.

.

I've held the tail down on 2 foot wing span sting rays....not eagle rays. I've caught quite a few on lines when fishing for jacks or snappers in the lagoons. Most times I just cut the line after getting it close to the boat. It's not hard as far as getting them immobile....just be careful and use something longer than the tail so you're not "in range" of the stinger. I would guess they die based on the amount of blood the wound causes.

 

[erparamedic]

I see.... I still hope I'm never in that situation though. I would just hate to inflict harm on an animal/fish... but, like I said, if it's me or the fish, I'm (hopefully) gonna win.

 

[REII]

I know that the Eagle Rays can and do jump. I am surprised however that it jumped that high to make it into the boat.

I guess the barb sting was a defensive move when the guy tried to pick it up?

TOM

 

[H2Andy]

yeah, they do jump

i guess it was just bad luck the boat was there

but wouldn't the ray have known the boat was there? they seem pretty aware