ATTACK BY STINGRAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 24, 29 January 1935, Page 10

ATTACK BY STINGRAY

YOUNG MAN INJURED

BARBED SPIKE IN LEG

A stingray attacked a young man who caught it while fishing; for snapper from a launch off Motuiapu Island, Auckland Harbour, on (Sunday morning, states the "New Zealand Herald." ,' It embedded one "sting" 2Sra in one leg and inflicted three cuts in fthe other leg with the remaining stiJßg. The young man was Stewart McLjean, aged about 25, of Paninuro Road; Ellerslie, who was a member of a fishing party of eight men. In the Uwnch Tarn, owned by Mr. J. Lowe, «o£ Speight Road, Kohimarama, they sist out on a fishing expedition and anchored about a mile from Home Bay, Mjotutapu. At about 2 p.m., after about J 30 snapper had been landed, Mr. McLean hooked what ho at first thought was a shark, and had no difficulty in bringing it to the side of the launch. It .'proved to be a comparatively small stingray, about 3ft across. Another nifcmber of the party pulled the stingray'into the cockpit of the launch, and a* Mr. McLean, who was barefooted, stepped back, he slipped and fell to tho flijor of the cockpit. In a flash, the sti.Mgray attacked his captor. It stabbeid Mr. McLean in the back of the leg n<jur the knee, and then turned over quickly and broke the sting off at its base,,' leaving a 3in "dagger" in its victim's leg. VICTIM FRONTS. . Other members of tiic party quickly assisted Mr. McLean Ito regain his feet, and one of them attempted to withdrawn the sting, whi&'h, however, could not be pulled out as :it was barbed for its entire length. ' ' Suddenly Mr. -McLean fainted and fell inert on to the Jfloor of the cockpit. Taking advantage uf' tho enemy's helplessness, the stingray resumed its attack. Lashing viciously with its. tail, it strove to to'dge its second and final sting in the man's other leg, but only succeeded in. '.inflicting three cuts before its unconscious victim was rescued. The stingray was plaecd in a box out of harm's way. The injured man was given attention by other members of the party, and was taken.; to St. Hclicrs, ■ and thence to hospital. REMOVAL 01' STING. The removal 'of the sting presented soino difficulty, and it was necessary to perform a. :minor operation. Pour stitches were. inserted in the wound after the baa-Led sting had been removed. FceEing no serious effects, of the mishap, M.r. McLean was able to proceed to his home. ".The sting; of this vicious denizen of the sea has a point as sharp as a needle, with* barbs ■ along its entire length," saWJ Mr. Lowe. "It consists of a bony su'.bstance covered by a black film. Som»3 rays have only one sting, but some tiavotwo; I have seen them with as many as three. The stings are ranged along tho stingray's tail on the top side and arc attached by only^ a very thin., piece so they can be readily snapped <j ff. Tho one which was lodged in Mr. l.lcLean's leg was about 3in long; tlie other one, which did- not find its :mark, was about 2in longer."