The Ocean Isn't Just Fun and Games
Woman Dies After Ray Strikes HerMIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- A woman on a boat died after a spotted eagle ray leaped from the water off the Florida Keys Thursday and struck her, officials said.
The force of the blow pushed the woman backward and she died when she hit her head on the boat deck, officials said.
"It's just as freakish of an accident as I have heard," said Jorge Pino of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "The chances of this occurring are so remote that most of us are completely astonished that this happened."
The commission identified the woman as Judy Kay Zagorski, 57, of Pigeon, Michigan.
The woman was seated or standing in the front of the boat as her husband piloted the vessel at about 25 mph out of a channel, Pino said. "The ray just actually popped up in front of the vessel," he said. "The father had not even a second to react. It was too late. It happened instantly and the woman fell backwards and, unfortunately, died as a result of the collision."
This is just so sad, you are having a wonderful time with your family on vacation and then this happens. Even though it was an accident and the ray wasn't what really killed her, but the reaction and collision, it's just terrible and sad.
I think that people need to realize that the ocean is full of dangers that could hurt or kill you, even with such rare instances such as as this, but people who don't visit the ocean or don't live by one full time really wouldn't know. And of course, resorts would never tell you the dangers because lack of fun in the water means lack of revenue for them.
I grew up on the gulf coast, minutes from the beach and even as a little kid my parents would always caution me about what lurks beneath. Not as a scare tactic, but because it was reality. There were always stories of tourists being hurt by rays, small sharks or jellyfish especially when digging for sand dollars or star fish, and it was because they just didn't know.
When I was 3 I was hospitalized for several days after a Man-of War washed over me from playing in the waves in Fort Lauderdale and then the family having a police escort across Alligator Alley on the way home and I also remember my foot being torn apart from a sting ray barb. It's not that I'm afraid of the water, but because of that I have always been very cautious and with friends from out of town that would visit and want to go to the beach, I would give them the 411 on what could be in the water.
The ocean is like an open zoo of animals and you are in their territory. People should take responsibility, but also the places that attract them there. Resorts will herd tourists in and out telling them the beauty of the Florida coast, to come swim and enjoy, deep sea fish and jet ski all day long, but with out a little heads up on sea life and even though it's rare, an accident can happen.
