I used to have one of these about 10" long. It was always very sharp. A co-worker from Trinidad, explained to me how when you step on a stingray they stick you with their barb. Naturally, from then on I was always afraid I'd step on a stringray.
Fenner PJ, Williamson JA, Skinner RA.
Ambrose Medical Group, North Mackay, Qld.
A fatality occurred in a previously healthy 12-year-old boy after a penetrating chest injury from a stingray barb. The injury occurred under freak circumstances. Death was a result of cardiac tamponade which was secondary to venom-induced, localized myocardial necrosis and spontaneous perforation, six days after the direct penetration of the right ventricle by the barb. Three other cases of less serious stingray envenomation are described which illustrate the significant localized morbidity that may occur without immediate wound exploration and toilet after adequate anaesthesia. We also report a study of a series of 100 minor stingray envenomations which, when treated, resulted in no morbidity. It is possible that local infiltration with 1% plain lignocaine may have a direct counteraction against stingray venom that remains in the wound area. Stingray venom has insidious, but powerful, localized tissue necrosing properties in humans.
I remember being in the water with a entire school of stingrays off Crandon Park Beach South Florida....they we beautiful and all swimming in formataion. I never realized they were so deadly.
There's some pretty nasty stuff in the deep. I heard there's less than five people on Earth who survived being stung by a conch.
I don't claim to be an expert on animal behavior, but it seems more than a few times I saw him basically get in the face of some critter who just plain didn't like cameras. Or humans.
I used to have one of these about 10" long. It was always very sharp. A co-worker from Trinidad, explained to me how when you step on a stingray they stick you with their barb. Naturally, from then on I was always afraid I'd step on a stringray.
JC, thanks for posting this article about stingrays and the 12 year old boy who died six days after his ventricle was pierced by a stingray barb.
It sounds like Steve Irwin didn't have a chance.
This would be a terrible way to go.......