Flying killer Stingray, true, sad and a tad funny maybe...

[TRDG]

Just read this while on break, down in Florida, a women was struck and killed while riding in a boat by a flying stingray. No joke, it weighed in at 75 pounds, the boat she was on was going about 25 MPH and a stingray jumped out of the water and hit her....... Nothing funny at all about that, very sad to hear, my best to her family

In the last part of the article, an official tries to explain why a stingray would jump out of the water, predators, giving berth and shaking off parasites..... The final sentance in the piece states that "They (stingrays) do not attack people."

Now, at the time I read this, I pictured it as a news wave of "killer stingray ATTACK" all over the place, like the shark news feeding frenzy one we had there a couple years ago. So in turn, it struck me as sad, then, is it true and finally a little bit funny to see how, or if this "flying killer stingray" story gets blown way out of proportion in the following days......

Cheers, I really do wish the family all the best!!

Tom

[Pylon1357]

Hey Tom I understand your thoughts, however in my thinking....this is a very tragic event for certain. I am sure we all remember Steve Irwin. Although the circumstances were different, the similarities are spooky.

To me this was a tragic 'one off' accident. I would offer my sympathies to the family of the woman killed in the same manner I would to any family who suffers a tragic loss due to an accident.

[TRDG]

Thanks for the reply, yes, I know your thoughts as well, and agree with them!! As to media coverage, do you see what I am getting at? I hav'nt seen any other coverage on it yet, but one wonders if it will go to extremes like the shark attacks before, news has to take this story in "context", if I may say, not blow it out of proportion........ That, I think, leads to abuse from our media and the "coverage" that some stories get. Then leads to many wild stories and "killer stingray" general thoughts in the public domain after the story has been out for a while, say by summer when a lot of people are on the water, from swimming to boating.

Cheers, again, thanks for the interest and reply

Tom

[Pylon1357]

I was thinking along the same lines as you are. I really do hope the media does not blow this tragedy way out of proportion. All we can do is wait, see and hope that this story will be over sensationalized. By in keeping with other rare events the media will certainly make this a headline story for weeks to come.

[McCoy]

It's a tragic accident for sure but it's also sad that the media will blow this out of proportions with their "Killer stingrays". My thoughts go to the family...

[TRDG]

Yes, very true gentlemen, one other thing that is a little surprising to me is the stinger on the ray. It seems that some wonder if the sting caused the death, or if it ever came into play, from what that article said. For me, it does'nt really matter, I mean the MPH impact was the problem here, not the stinger and if it was used when the ray contacted the very unlucky women in the speeding boat.

Time will tell I guess on this as well, has anyone else heard of any updates yet?

Cheers

Tom

[Pylon1357]

The last report I heard of this said that the poor woman died as a result of head trauma. I recall the report said she was thrown against something on the boat and she hit her head. I imagine had the boat hit a rock are buoy, the result would be the same, however, we would not hear about the story other than maybe a quick blurb on the local news.

[Geek44]

It's a freak accident. Tragic, but heck, I'll say it...quite funny. If there is a God, he must have been feeling cheeky that day.
Re Steve Irwin. After his death...ordinary Aussies were going down to the beach and killing stingrays in some stupid frenzy of revenge...just a little insight for all the non-Aussies out there.
Can you (expletive) believe that?! That's just what Steve would have wanted eh?