Barracuda jumps into Keys kayak, bites woman in chest, Coast Guard says

[Zummie]

Barracuda jumps into Keys kayak, bites woman in chest, Coast Guard says
Sun Sentinel

October 18, 2010

MARATHON —

A woman was bitten Sunday by a barracuda that jumped into her kayak in the Florida Keys, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday.

According to the Coast Guard, the 45-year-old woman and her male companion said they were in a two-person kayak near Big Pine Key about 5:15 p.m. Sunday when a barracuda jumped into the vessel, bit her in the chest and then jumped back into the water.

The attack left the woman with an apparent punctured lung and broken ribs, the Coast Guard said.

A rescue vessel from the Coast Guard station in Marathon worked with the private company TowBoatU.S., which launched a small boat carrying a paramedic that was able to maneuver into the shallow water where the kayak was.

According to the Coast Guard, the man in the kayak was unable to row to shore without causing further harm to the woman.

Once aboard the TowBoatU.S. vessel, the woman was taken to Dolphin Marina and then airlifted to Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she is listed in stable condition, according to the Coast Guard.

No other information was immediately available.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/flo...,4262212.story

[eppefour]

Key West, Fla. — The Coast Guard and Tow Boat U.S. rescued a kayaker who was bitten by a barracuda near Big Pine Key, Fla. Sunday evening.

At approximately 5:15 p.m. a 45 -year-old female and her male companion reported they were kayaking in a two-person kayak when a barracuda jumped into the vessel and bit her in the chest, then jumped back into the water. She appeared to be suffering a possible punctured lung and broken ribs.

Coast Guard Station Marathon immediately launched a 33-foot Special Purpose Craft and Tow Boat U.S. responded with a small boat with a paramedic on board.

The kayak was in extremely shallow water and the other person onboard was unable to row the vessel to shore without causing further harm to the patient, but the Tow Boat U.S. small boat was able to get onscene and the paramedic onboard immediately began administering first aid to the patient.

The Tow Boat U.S. small boat transported the patient to Dolphin Marina, where she was transferred to a TraumaStar helicopter that flew her to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. The patient is listed in stable condition.