They're Out to Get Us

[Tom]

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.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

"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.


Down in mainland Mexico (Pacific Coast) we saw them do this all the time. We say they are leaping for joy.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

If he was leaping for joy, this one must've been a sociopath!

[€uroMeinke]

You know, the word "sting" is in their name - my guess is that people who know these creatures are not surpised at all that they might actually sting someone.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

So does Gordon Summer, but you don't see *him* killing people, do you?

[Jughead P. Jones]

So does Gordon Summer, but you don't see *him* killing people, do you?

I don't know...I almost had a heart attack when I saw his god awful video for "I'm So Happy That I Can't Stop Crying".

[CoasterMatt]

Maybe somebody should sting Sting after that stinker...

[RStar]

Maybe somebody should sting Sting after that stinker...
Sombody by the name of Ray perhaps.......


If this is such a freak thing, why has it happened twice so recently? Or is it the notariaty of Steve's that brought this to the news media, when we not have heard about it otherwise?

[Not Afraid]

It probably has just become attention-worthy since it happened to some famous.

Quick, someone propose a horror film idea.

A Giant Sting Ray decides to make the small beach resort town of Amity his private stinging grounds. This greatly frustrates the town police chief who wants to close the beaches to chase the ray away. He is thwarted in his efforts by the town's mayor who finally relents when nothing else seems to work and the chief, a scientist, and an old fisherman with revenge on his mind take to the sea to kill the beast.

[JWBear]

It probably has just become attention-worthy since it happened to some famous.

Quick, someone propose a horror film idea.
Naaaah.... Nobody'd pay money to see a movie like that! ;)

[CoasterMatt]

Didn't anybody read The Black Pearl (http://www.nancypolette.com/LitGuidesText/blackpearl.htm) in elementary school?
It featured the "Manta Diablo" :D

[CoasterMatt]

http://imdb.com/title/tt0074212/

It was also made into a movie in 1977 :)

[tracilicious]

I like to think that sea life has an elaborate communication method. Now that they've figured out our weakness, word has spread and no one is safe.

[€uroMeinke]

So does Gordon Summer, but you don't see *him* killing people, do you?

Have you ever seen the David Lynch Dune?

[RStar]

http://imdb.com/title/tt0074212/

It was also made into a movie in 1977 :)
Shoot! It's so hard to come up with a good idea. Seems like someone else always comes up with it first!

[Gemini Cricket]

What's a huge bummer is that the 80 yr old guy survived because he didn't pull out the stinger. If he hadn't pulled it out, the Croc Hunter may have survived... May have...

[scaeagles]

I haven't read about the 80 yr old guy, but I doubt that Irwin would have survived - the stinger went into his heart.

[Gemini Cricket]

I haven't read about the 80 yr old guy, but I doubt that Irwin would have survived - the stinger went into his heart.
Didn't the stinger go into the heart of the 80 yr old?

[RStar]

I think it said "it just missed his heart".....

[Gemini Cricket]

I think it said "it just missed his heart".....
Ah.