"A woman has died after an Eagle Ray, pictured here, reportedly jumped into her boat off Marathon, Fla. and its barb lodged in her neck." CBS
Posted on 03/20/2008 12:37:23 PM PDT by BenLurkin
MARATHON, Fla. (CBS) ― A woman has died in a freak accident in the Florida Keys.
Jorge Pino, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said a woman was on a boat with her family off Marathon, Fla. when an Eagle Ray jumped out of the water next to the vessel Thursday morning. The animal reportedly struck the 55-year old woman who fell backward and suffered a severe head trauma.
Initial reports had indicated that the animal's sharp defensive barb, located near the base of its tail, had lodged in the woman's neck.
The woman, who was from Michigan, died before help could arrive.
Investigators say the victim, whose name has not been made public, was aboard a boat with here sister, father, and mother.
An eyewitness told CBS Station WFOR-TV in Miami that a child had been injured and was taken to a hospital, but that report has not been confirmed by investigators. The Eagle Ray is common in the waters off South Florida and the Florida Keys. These rays can grow extremely large; up to 16 feet in length including the tail with a wingspan of up to 8 feet. The long tail, which is armed with sharp poisonous barbs, looks like a whip and may be as long as the body.
Eagle Rays live close to the coast in depths of 3 to 60 feet and in exceptional cases they are found as deep as 900 feet. The Eagle Ray is most commonly seen along sandy beaches in very shallow waters. The ray's two wings sometimes break the surface and giving the impression of two sharks traveling together.
"A woman has died after an Eagle Ray, pictured here, reportedly jumped into her boat off Marathon, Fla. and its barb lodged in her neck." CBS
Pinging Steve Irwin...
Crikey!
Ouch !
ah if it’s your time to go its truly your time to go
eat drink and be merry...do not live in fear :)
When it’s your time to go.............
I've also read about boaters being hit by barracuda and needle fish in Florida waters.
54 seconds. I’ve got to post faster next time. ;-)
If she was 55, then what were her father and mother? 80? 85? 90?!?
Right place, wrong time. What are the odds?
Ya just never know when check out time is.....Live in the now.
Sometimes it’s good that we don’t know when our number is up.
I’m sure of all the ways to go, this was not high on her list.
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