Stingray Jumps In Boat - Stabs Man In Chest

[matcom]

<snip>

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."

Bertakis was conscious when paramedics arrived. Surgeons were able to remove some of the barb, but were not able to locate the rest and feared it may have migrated. Bertakis suffered a closed chest wound, collapsed lung and may have to undergo open-heart surgery, rescue officials said.

The roughly 5-foot wide, 30 pound stingray died on the boat, firefighters said. They kept it in a plastic bag and on ice until Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers picked it up, Sullivan said.

Ellen Pikitch, a professor of marine biology and fisheries at the University of Miami, who has been studying stingrays for decades, said the fish are generally docile creatures.

"Something like this is really, really extraordinarily rare," she said. "I've never heard any reports of a stingray attacking a person. Even when they are under duress, they don't usually attack."

"Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, 44, died Sept. 4 when a stingray's barb pierced his chest while he filmed a TV show on the Great Barrier Reef.

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

[billyskank]

1. We must do something about the stingrays IMMEDIATELY!

They are a threat to our way of life!! :bounce:

[Anarcho-Socialist]

6. I hope New Labour bring in tough new anti-stingray laws

We should surrender our civil liberties to feel safe about this new stingray menace.

[billyskank]

7. Gordon will keep us safe

:D

[Anarcho-Socialist]

8. You're not outraged enough

I'm going to write a piece in the Daily Mail calling you a stingray-sell out for not being outraged enough.

[billyskank]

9. No, I am not

I am disgusted. I write to the Daily Telegraph. Yours, Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells. :D

[RetroLounge]

2. When Stingrays Go Bad...

Stingrays: The New Shark...

RL

[xchrom]

3. attack of the mutant sting rays!!

sting rays from planet x!

invasion of the killer sting rays!

[Orsino]

4. We cannot wait for the smoking gun...

...to come in the form of a poison stinger.

[underpants]

5. Leaping Stingrays Batman!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2431602

[El Fuego]

10. Maybe stingray accidents are more common than we think.

They probably just weren't being reported before. Prior to Steve Irwin's death, this wouldn't have made the news since the guy didn't die.

Yet another false fear creating by the media!!!

[marzipanni]

11. Accidents? These are no accident.

"Psssst...man is ruining the planet....pass it on."

[ohiosmith]

12. Crikey!

[Ron Green]

13. Florida again. I'm keepin' track.

[mainegreen]

14. FLORIDA! n/t

[Fuzz]

15. It's a conspiracy. Start tapping the stingrays phones immediately!!

They must be stopped before they grow lungs and take over the world!