Another stabbed by stingray

[SamFamAustin]

Golly, after the events in Australia, this time another man gets stabbed by a stingray in Florida, see:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/National/Stingray_Stabbing.html

You can read the story yourself (rather gross) but this time the ray actually jumped into the boat, unprovoked. Heh, lot's of the sturgeons and Asian carp have been doing that lately. The gentleman got in trouble by trying to throw him overboard.

For a large ray like that, I would suggest a long-handle gaff and a baseball bat if I had one ... but the moral of the story is to never remove the barb yourself. Get thee to a hospital by 9-1-1, mayday call, or somehow fast as possible. Be careful out there,

The Sturgeon General

[PELLUCID]

Every year, as part of my new crew orientation, I tell each troop of scouts that the Bahamian sea creature most likely to injure them is not the shark, or the barracuda, but the stingray. Now perhaps they will start taking me seriously!

Chest stabbings are exceedingly rare of course -- the major cause of injury is stepping on the things. Which is why it's always a good idea to have sturdy footwear when wading the flats or lee-side beaches.

[DrRalph]

Might be a good time to review Injuries from Stingrays (http://www.drralph.net/Stingrays.html).

[CrossPatch]

Hey folks,

I'm wondering what speacialty first aid kit items you might recommend for a group spending a couple weeks bareboating during July. I practiced as an ICU RN for about 10 yrs before making a career change and will have my basics of analgesics, suncreen, bug dope, sting eeze, epi pens (boys w/ asthma and reactive airway dz and guest w/ seafood allergy), Aloe/lidocaine sunburn gel all Rx meds and the usual dressing materials. What uniquely valuable, hard to find etc might you suggest?

Thanks,

paul

[RumPunch]

From the news photos I have seen, it was a spotted eagle ray that jumped into his boat, and he probably got the barb when he tried to lift it out. Probably didn't realize it had the barb. It was about 3 ft wide at the wings and probably weighed about 40-50lbs.

Like manta rays, eagle rays often cruise near the surface and are known to jump out of the water. The reason is uncertain, but it is speculated that it is to dislodge parasites. I have seen a lot of eagle rays while diving and the news report of the one foot long barb seems a bit long for that size ray.

He just happened to being cruising by when the ray jumped. Wrong place at the wrong time.

I was casting a fly to a bonefish that was shadow feeding behind a small eagle ray once, and the darn ray turned just as the fly landed and he took it. He went flying across the flat jumping out of the water and all I could do was break him off because they are extremely strong swimmers.

[DrRalph]

Paul, sounds like you've assembled a pretty comprehensive first aid kit. We also carry a 25cc multi-dose vial of 1% lidocaine, some needles and syringes, and some nylon suture, as well as some butterfly strips. We also carry 4x4 gauze pads, paper tape, and a few 4x8" Telfa pads for those broad, surface abrasions. Lastly, we have a 4x24" piece of starboard that we can use as a splint if we encounter a fracture, which fortunately hasn't happened as yet.

We should point out the the folks at Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, as well as the other health care providers in Abaco, are heroic in terms of responding to and treating injuries.

And, if you're interested in a pre-paid air ambulance service that will come and get you in Abaco (or anywhere else) and take you home for emergency medical care, check out Medjet Assist (http://www.medjetassist.com/default.asp?partner=drralph).

[Abacobrad]

Linc's cove affectionately known as "Lincoln Park" is a great place to do the Abaco Shuffle and learn close up about Stingrays. Pellucid is right about the injury part though- always because people step on or startle the almost always friendly and curious creatures. Be especially careful with dogs running the shallows- their curosity will get them a tail whipping from a fleeing ray.

A few weeks ago, we snuck over for a fall weekend and one of my buddies actually got seasick in **** near flat seas! The cure was Linc's cove and a couple of Kaliks. The cove was empty and the Stingrays followed our boat in like an armada welcoming us ashore. It was actually a challenge to get out of the boat they were circling like hungry vultures around the boat. At this point just blindly jumping out of the boat into a foot of water would not be a good idea. We just stepped into the water and they glided over us begging like dogs.

Fortunately we had some bait and had a ball feeding the rays.
My daughters (and other more adventurous souls) than I actually put bait in between their toes and the rays glide over and suck it off.

Just remember the Abaco Shuffle when walking in the shallows. Kaliks and Goombays will help with the rithem...

Oh and the Sharks were not far behind and they too cruised close by looking for Linc's scraps. My friend noticed the reddish stripes down their backs and we realized the darn sharks were sunburned. These 3-4' blacktips are a new species Dr. Ralph! How about the LJ Blacktip? How about a new thread?

[BahamaAngie]

Wow! I never saw a shark in such low water!!!! What kind is it??? I think I am starting to like looking at the water and swimming in a pool preferably a pool on the beach! I never realized they came in so close to shore. Yikes! I am a sissy when it comes to that!

[Abacobrad]

These Sharks are darn near tame! and it is very unusual to see them in so close in clear shallow water. For the past 30+ years the infamous Lincoln Jones has been cleaning, cooking and serving a feast to his guest and to the Rays and Sharks too. 10 Years ago Linc named one of the Rays Bertha after Hurricane Bertha. This Ray was enormous and graced the cove for many years.

Do not fear these sharks Angie and in clear water they will never approach you out of curosity either.

Brad

Wow! I never saw a shark in such low water!!!! What kind is it??? I think I am starting to like looking at the water and swimming in a pool preferably a pool on the beach! I never realized they came in so close to shore. Yikes! I am a sissy when it comes to that!

[BahamaAngie]

Thanks! I will try and remember that if I see any if I don't have a panic attack first and not forget your advice. But I will try and remember. Sharks are one of my biggest fears. My friends laugh at me and say "you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning" Our house was hit in 1973! Does that make us prime bait?????

[Charlotte Couple]

I was surprised to read that the ray was a spotted eagle ray. I did not think they had barbs, so I learned a valuable lesson. In the article I read about the incident, the first paragraph mentioned the "foot-long barb", but toward the end of the article it said the barb was 2 1/2 inches long. Quite a difference, don't you think?

[Abacoparrott]

would be more like a ......mast........Ken

[SamFamAustin]

As my dad would say, "a mast in a shoal in the ground."

[Charlotte Couple]

That story was probably written by a man. You know how 2 1/2 inches can become a foot long when we tell stories, right?

[Abacobrad]

He He
:rolleyes:
That story was probably written by a man. You know how 2 1/2 inches can become a foot long when we tell stories, right?

[Abacoparrott]

the only thing that I've seen that was anywhere near a foot long was a hot dog at Holden Beach.......

[Patti Puzo]

You guys are too funny! LOL

[SamFamAustin]

Hi Patti! Hey down here on South Padre some folks caught a 300-lb Atlantic stingray about 17 miles out, which took over and hour to land (remember the Osprey boats?). The fish have to be intact when landed but they did dress out the wings and cut out the barb, which was a massive ... 4 inches (it was fairly wide though). The local surfers wear them around their necks if they have one, since shark's teeth can be so BORING. Most are quite small but interesting looking, somehow medieval.

So these puppies are not a threat to our manhood, eh?
:p