Woman Killed by Spotted Ray in Florida

Oh Thursday, a Michigan woman died off the Florida keys after being struck by a spotted eagle stingray that had jumped out of the water. Judy Kay Zagoski was riding in a boat traveling at 25 miles per hour when she was struck in the face by the ray. Although the cause of death is yet to be determined, it is believed that the impact is what killed Zagorski. It is not believed that she was stung. Spotted rays do not attack humans but are know to leap out of the water to escape predators, according to NBC 6.

Many people have a fear of the denizens of the deep. This fear was popularized by the movie Jaws. The fear of the unknown is understandable. When we are in the water, we are in their world not ours. We must play their rules. However, it is actually quite rare for humans to be attacked my any marine creature. Sharks are the most reported type of attack but is you consider the number of attacks as compared to the number of swimmers you will find the odds of you being bothered by any marine animal to be infinitesimal. The statistics do not help, however when you are confronted by such a situation.

As occurred to me in the summer of 1985 in the Atlantic Ocean just off of the beach in Panama. I was in the Army at the time, training in Panama and had a weekend off, so I decided to go SCUBA diving. I had been diving for eight year, but this would be my first saltwater experience. I talked to every one that I knew on the base and no one was able to go with me, so I broke the Cardinal Rule of SCUBA, Never dive alone. I trundled off to a local dive shop and rented my gear. I headed to a little rocky outcrop with a small slice of sand. I was pleased to notice the beginnings of a coral reef just offshore. I swam out enjoying the incredible colors of the coral that we do not find in the lakes of Minnesota. I began to work my way down the reef when I had my first startling sight. It was an eel. I believe it was a moray eel but I am not sure. I only knew it had a set of sharp teeth that I wanted no part of. However this was just a small fright compared to what was about to come.

I was near the sea floor at about 30 feet down when I noticed a shadow pass over me. I looked up and saw the recognizable silhouette of a hammerhead shark. Not one, but several of them were above me. Instead of doing the proper thing, such as calmly making my way towards shore along the bottom, I shot up like a rocket and swam for my life! I was just a few feet from the surface and moving toward shore when my erratic behavior attacked the attention of an eight-foot hammerhead. He came right at me and when he was a few feet away, he veered of and swam out of sight. In retrospect, he was probably just curious. Nevertheless, I needed to change my wetsuit.

Tragic incidents like the one that happened to Ms. Zagorski, or the events leading to the death of Steve Corwin do occur. However, they are extremely rare. In the years following my underwater fright, I have dived in the ocean many times and not a thing has occurred. These beautiful animals are not out to get us, but unfortunate paths do, rarely, cross.

Works Cited

NBC 6. Woman Dies After Encounter With Spotted Eagle Ray. 20 March 2008. .