Stingray Get Offensive?

[bkfount]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/19/sti...eut/index.html

MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) -- A leaping stingray stabbed an 81-year-old Florida boater in the chest, authorities said Wednesday, leaving its poisonous stinger lodged close to his heart in an incident recalling the one that killed Australian TV naturalist Steve Irwin last month.

Fire Department officials in Lighthouse Point, about 30 miles north of Miami, said James Bertakis was in a small recreational boat with two grandchildren Tuesday when the spotted eagle ray leaped aboard and struck him.

"It's just a real freak thing," Lt. Mike Sullivan told Reuters, saying the incident occurred on Florida's Intracoastal Waterway, where stingrays are rarely seen leaping in the air. (Watch to see the speckled creature's face, stringy tail and what's happened to the victim-- 1:25)

"For an 81-year-old man he's in really good shape," Sullivan added, saying Bertakis was expected to make a full recovery after surgery at a local hospital to have the stinger removed from his chest.

"Crocodile Hunter" Irwin, 44, died when a stingray's stinger punctured his heart off Australia's north coast last month. It was one of only a handful of stingray fatalities on record.

the end is near..

[fishepa]

Re: Stingray Tet Offensive?

I don't believe it. As far as I know, stingrays are not able to leap into a boat and actually attack someone.

[bkfount]

Re: Stingray Tet Offensive?

I don't believe it. As far as I know, stingrays are not able to leap into a boat and actually attack someone.

that's because they didn't want you to know.

[The C]

Re: Stingray Get Offensive?

And to think I actually petted one at Seaworld one time...

Bastards

[rudyjuly2]

Re: Stingray Get Offensive?

I swam with the Stingrays in the Grand Caymens on my honeymoon and they are extremely peaceful. Hundreds of people do it every day in the middle of the Carribean (on a sand bar) where they are just wild and friendly creatures. They are lured there simply by the smell of food. Our instructor said he had only seen one sting in 11 years and it was because the person did what he wasn't supposed to do.

You don't pet them on top since they are bottom feeders and are generally attacked from above. They only attack out of defense. Just don't step on them, pick them up out of the water (they need water to breath) or pet them from above and you will be fine. My wife and I both petted the Stingrays underneath and it was really cool. The same instructor actually held a Stingray in the water and even showed us her stinger.

[slickdtc]

Re: Stingray Get Offensive?

And to think I actually petted one at Seaworld one time...

Bastards

:y4:

[DXZeke]

Re: Stingray Get Offensive?

People talk about evolution.... what says that Animals aren't slowing starting to evolve enough that they are smart enough to sense things and know the kill points of attackers or prey?

It's kind of crazy to have 2 people in a matter of months have the same kind of injury. A stinger to the heart.

I'm kind of happy that the animals are attacking back since Man has destoryed their homes and their eco systems. I get tired of the "tree huggers" and how they present their cases to people.... it's to preachy like some do with religion. It turns a lot of people off.

Hopefullly A Meteor, super quakes, hurricanes, tidal waves... that mother nature takes her planet back over.

[PdiddyPop]

Re: Stingray Get Offensive?

It's probably happened a few times before *not deaths*, but just a well known public figure was killed by a stingray. So now everytime someone is "attacked" by a stingray it will be magnified.

[fishepa]

Re: Stingray Get Offensive?

The bottom line is that a sting ray can't fly in the first place. That just doesn't happen. That's like saying a man was killed by a tiger after being eaten alive underwater.

[p_rushing]

Re: Stingray Get Offensive?

The sting ray only stung him when the guy was trying to get it out of the boat.

Maybe the rays are mad after their hunting in Australia and they are coming for us now.

[Brandon13]

Re: Stingray Get Offensive?

It's probably happened a few times before *not deaths*, but just a well known public figure was killed by a stingray. So now everytime someone is "attacked" by a stingray it will be magnified.

Bingo.

[23]

Re: Stingray Get Offensive?

I for some reason don't believe they are telling the entire story.

A stingray just jumps on a boat and stabs a man. Out of the clear blue....LOL

Okay, I also have a couple of islands for sale in Moscow,for a cool mil, cash money. Bring it to me and you can have them both.