Stingray Kills Woman on Boat in Fla.

Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:40 PM EDT

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MARATHON — A 75-pound stingray killed a Michigan woman Thursday when it flew out of the water and struck her face as she rode a boat in the Florida Keys, officials said.

Judy Kay Zagorski, of Pigeon, Mich., was sitting in the front seat of a boat going 25 mph when the spotted eagle ray, with a wingspan of 5 to 6 feet, leaped out of the water, said Jorge Pino, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The 57-year-old woman's father was driving the boat on the Atlantic Ocean side of Vaca Key, Pino said.

"He had absolutely no warning. It just happened instantaneously," Pino said.

The collision knocked Zagorski backward onto the floor of the boat, Pino said.

The impact likely killed the woman, and she did not appear to have puncture wounds from the ray's barb, Pino said. An autopsy is planned, Pino said.

Zagorski's sister was standing next to her when the stingray appeared but was not injured, Pino said.

The stingray landed in the 25-foot boat and died from the impact, officials said.

Spotted eagle rays can weigh 500 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 10 feet. They are known to occasionally jump out of the water but are not aggressive and use the venomous barb at the end of their tail for defense.

The rays are protected in Florida waters and are typically seen swimming on the water's surface.

"Rays jump to escape a predator, give birth and shake off parasites," said Lynn Gear, supervisor of fishes and reptiles at Theater of the Sea in Islamorada. "They do not attack people."

In 2006, a South Florida man was also critically injured when a stingray flopped into his boat and stung him. James Bertakis, 82, of Lighthouse Point, underwent surgery because the stingray left a foot-long barb in his heart. He has since recovered.

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{"commentId":1602542,"authorDomain":"greenpagan"}

greenpagan

What a way to go.

(Don't go near the water. There are monsters in it.)

====

{"commentId":1602542,"threadId":"237761","contentId":"1379675","authorDomain":"greenpagan"}

1 vote

#1 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:25 PM EDT

{"commentId":1603005,"authorDomain":"dirkbonesteel"}

Popular-delusion

This is one of the strangest stories I have ever seen. This is a fish you can swim right up to and hitch a ride. Besides the croc. Hunter guy I have never heard of a person being hurt by one of these. I am sorry in advance for ticking a few people off. While I never ever would have guessed Sting-Ray but I knew the Croc. Hunter was going to have a big problem eventually. Being that hyper around animals is pushing it. But then holding a couple month old baby that looked like meat even to me anywhere near a croc. "to show child what was in yard and Nature is safe". That shows you have been doing it to long and are getting way to cocky. I have also never heard of a ray leaving the water! Best guess is escaping from very large shark attracted by the boat motor. They do that but no one knows why.

{"commentId":1603005,"threadId":"237761","contentId":"1379675","authorDomain":"dirkbonesteel"}

1 vote

#2 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":1605182,"authorDomain":"tang"}

Calvin Tang

This is a fish you can swim right up to and hitch a ride.

This isn't particularly good for the animal, but I concur - every spotted eagle ray I've ever seen has been very gentle and majestic. These are not aggressive marine animals.

{"commentId":1605182,"threadId":"237761","contentId":"1379675","authorDomain":"tang"}

#2.1 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":1605300,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

"Rays jump to escape a predator, give birth and shake off parasites,"

Yep. That's what I do when I give birth. What a weird story.

{"commentId":1605300,"threadId":"237761","contentId":"1379675","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

1 vote

#3 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":1619624,"authorDomain":"tang"}

Calvin Tang

What do you do to escape predators and shake off parasites, not answer the phone?

{"commentId":1619624,"threadId":"237761","contentId":"1379675","authorDomain":"tang"}

1 vote

#3.1 - Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":1619671,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

I have a voice double answer all my calls.

{"commentId":1619671,"threadId":"237761","contentId":"1379675","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

1 vote

#3.2 - Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:42 PM EDT

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Head Injuries From Ray Killed Boater	Associated Press	Fri Mar 21	0
Jumping stingray ray kills woman off Florida Keys (+photos)	New Zealand Herald	Fri Mar 21	0
Giant ray kills woman in boat in Florida Keys	The L.A. Times	Thu Mar 20	7

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Stingray Kills Woman on Boat in Fla.

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