The spotted eagle ray which killed a Michigan woman is seen in this photo released by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Dept. Thursday.
Posted on 03/21/2008 5:20:01 PM PDT by Maceman
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A boater who was killed when a ray jumped out of the water in the Florida Keys and hit her face died of skull fractures and brain injuries, not from the animal’s poisonous barb, a medical examiner said Friday.
Judy Kay Zagorski, 57, of Pigeon, Mich., was in the front of a boat going 25 mph on Thursday when a 75-pound spotted eagle ray leapt from the water and hit her in a freak collision.
Monroe County’s medical examiner, Dr. Michael Hunter, determined that the cause of death was "blunt force" head injury and that the collision with the ray killed her off Marathon, about 50 miles northeast of Key West.
Hunter’s report noted she suffered "multiple skull fractures and direct brain injury resulting in sudden death," said Jorge Pino, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
She was not stung by the ray. The collision knocked Zagorski backward, onto the floor of the boat, Pino said.
"The force of that impact was dramatic," he said.
The family requested that no autopsy be performed, Pino said.
Zagorski was vacationing with her family in Marathon. She was on the boat with her father, Virgil Bouck, 88, who was driving; her mother, Verneta; and her sister, Joyce Ann Miller, Pino said.
Zagorski’s brother, Dan Bouck, called her a "truly awesome sister" who volunteered to work with terminally ill patients and operated a marina.
Her husband of 33 years, Steve, also died unexpectedly two years ago from complications after shoulder surgery, he said.
"We all miss Judy dearly. It just really hasn’t even sunk in yet," Bouck said Friday.
Spotted eagle rays can grow to about 17 feet long, including the tail, and weigh up to 500 pounds. Some have wingspans as wide as 10 feet.
They are not aggressive and use the venomous barb at the end of their tail for defense.
While they are known to occasionally jump out of the water to escape predators, remove parasites or give birth, collisions with humans are "unheard of," Pino said. "It was a freak, freak accident."
Spotted eagle rays are protected in Florida waters and are typically seen swimming in groups near the ocean’s surface.
Ray encounters may be rare, but they do happen.
The spotted eagle ray which killed a Michigan woman is seen in this photo released by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Dept. Thursday.
“Spotted eagle rays are protected in Florida waters and are typically seen swimming in groups near the ocean’s surface.”
No charges are currently pending.
Otherwise... weird.
Proving once again...when it’s YOUR time...it’s YOUR time.
but, it isn't funny...... it is just a sad and cimical wat to go! The funny will come in years from now, when the family retells.
Is that common behavior for rays?
No no no. NONONONONO. You fool. This only proves that you should always wear a helmet whilst boating. And a pirate's eyepatch, fishnet stockings, and a duck-bill.
They aren't electric, are they?
“Is that common behavior for rays?:
Try reading the article.
Paging Steven Speilberg....
We had one come flying out of the water when we were on our way to Catalina one time that was over 8 feet across.
It got about 6 feet over the water.
ITt was a couple of hundred feet ahead of me so it didn’t come close to a colision.
Another reason not to speed on the water.
Shouldn't be in the front of a powerboat to begin with, unless it's a ship or going very slowly.
I speed read. Sometimes I miss things. Sorry you were so terribly inconvenienced.
One flew over my house yesterday....it was really big!
Cimical wat?
Next thing you know, they’ll be requiring everyone wear helmets while boating.
Good grief. You’ve just got to blame the victim?
25mph on the water is hardly “speeding” or in any way irresponsible. And for a boat designed for it, there’s nothing wrong with riding in the bow compartment.
This was a bizarre freak accident. It doesn’t have to be blamed on anybody.
The next time I go boating I’m bringing a...
ray gun.
Huh? My little boat will do 55. Trees can ruin your day though.
you choose.
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