On October 18th an 81-year-old Florida man made national news when he was stung in the heart by a spotted eagle stingray. James Bertakis was fishing with his grandchildren on an Intercoastal Waterway when the stingray flopped into the boat. Bertakis was apparently trying to get the stingray out of the boat when it stung him. It is an odd coincidence so shortly after Steve Irwin's untimely run in with a stingray. The Crocodile Hunter died at 44 early last month while filming an underwater documentary in the Great Barrier Reef when he was stung in the heart by a stingray. Fortunately, James did not pull out the foot-long stinger, as did Irwin (or maybe even because of the knowledge from his death) and was rushed to the hospital. He had a collapsed lung and pierced left ventricle; doctors were able to remove the barb and close up the wound in his heart during surgery on Wednesday and Thursday. He is expected to make a full recovery, but due to his age, the healing process will be slow and monitored closely. Most reports are calling this an attack, but it is pretty hard to envision a fish out of water thrashing about an attack. I would be more comfortable calling it a crazy coincidence/freak accident. At most the stingray felt threatened and acted in defense. Either way, it is an interesting twist of fate so soon after the world mourned Steve Irwin in such a similar accident.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Deja Vu?
On October 18th an 81-year-old Florida man made national news when he was stung in the heart by a spotted eagle stingray. James Bertakis was fishing with his grandchildren on an Intercoastal Waterway when the stingray flopped into the boat. Bertakis was apparently trying to get the stingray out of the boat when it stung him. It is an odd coincidence so shortly after Steve Irwin's untimely run in with a stingray. The Crocodile Hunter died at 44 early last month while filming an underwater documentary in the Great Barrier Reef when he was stung in the heart by a stingray. Fortunately, James did not pull out the foot-long stinger, as did Irwin (or maybe even because of the knowledge from his death) and was rushed to the hospital. He had a collapsed lung and pierced left ventricle; doctors were able to remove the barb and close up the wound in his heart during surgery on Wednesday and Thursday. He is expected to make a full recovery, but due to his age, the healing process will be slow and monitored closely. Most reports are calling this an attack, but it is pretty hard to envision a fish out of water thrashing about an attack. I would be more comfortable calling it a crazy coincidence/freak accident. At most the stingray felt threatened and acted in defense. Either way, it is an interesting twist of fate so soon after the world mourned Steve Irwin in such a similar accident.
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