Stingray Causes Boating Death in Marathon, FL
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.

"It's a bizarre accident," Pino told Reuters.

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."

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'86 300E 5 speed
'71 Triumph TR6
'46 Cushman Scooter
'41 Ford 9N tractor

That's crazy. Reminds me of the Crocodile Hunter.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

Stingrays-2
Man-0

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

Mister Ray is our friend.

An incredible long-shot, and very sad.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Sad and freaky.....very freaky....you just never know.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

I'm trying to imagine "jumping out of the water to give birth" . . .

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

It's all part of the animal conspiracy.

http://www.vaguebuttrue.com/bt2_4416m.mp3

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Hence...

the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.....

and
Miami Hurricanes....

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Showing up every day isn't enough. There are a lot of guys who show up every day who shouldn't have showed up at all. - James Caan

LD, now I get it, a kamikaze stingray

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'86 300E 5 speed
'71 Triumph TR6
'46 Cushman Scooter
'41 Ford 9N tractor

It happens I have heard about it before. I think thats an old story I remember reading either that one or a very similer one in Boating magazine a few years ago.

Flying fish hurt a lot of people that way.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Are You ready to go??....................Eterninty is a long time...

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Matt (SD,CA)

1984 300SD.. White/Chrome Bunts..Green

1997 2500 Dodge Ram 5.9 Cummins 12 Valve 36 PSI of Boost = 400+hp & 800+tQ .. ..Greenspeed

2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Quad Cab Cummins 5.9 H.O "596hp/1225tq" 6 spd. Man. Leather Heated seats/Loaded..Flame Red....GREENSPEED

Global warming...Doing my part, Smokin da hippies..

Fight the good fight!......

Sad and bizarre story.

Stingrays are some wild looking critters. Filling a vacant spot on the evolutionary tree.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

My Lord. The poor gal. Sis and father, as well. I'm sad for them.

This story sure puts my duck back on the 4th into proper perspective for me.

Gee…people running into wildlife everywhere these days. But who’d of thought, a ray, while in a boat?



- UK Mum

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

Eagle rays jump (stingrays do not) quite often, and if you are on the water often where they live you will see it. You will come to expect it. You will learn where they frequent and not drive your boat fast over shallow areas where they are for this reason. Humans are now going everywhere and at all times; wild creatures doing what they have always done will "interfere". Eagle rays are quite inquisative and seem to have a intelligence underwater. Their face actually looks human-like. I've had over 300 eagle ray encounters while diving or snorkling and many times where eagle rays seemed to lead me to something interesting on purpose.