A 100-pound sailfish leaped from the water, stabbing a 73-year-old woman on a fishing boat. The fish impaled her in the groin off the Florida coast.
Sailfish stabs 73-year-old woman
A sailfish leaped out of the water, impaling a 73-year-old woman from Maryland on a fishing boat in Florida. She was with two others on the boat last Tuesday when an angler on the boat caught the fish. As per the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, it was on a fishing line around two miles offshore near Stuart, Florida.
As they were reeling in the fish, the two men on the boat noticed the sailfish charging at the boat. It then jumped out of the water stabbing the woman in the groin area. As per the incident report, she was standing next to the center console. As per the sheriff’s office, the anglers reported the creature was about 100-pounds.
More on the incident
Before meeting the responding officers at Sandspirit Park, the two men put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. Katherine Perkins, the 73-year-old revealed to the police that the incident unfolded quickly and she had no time to react. However, no one else got injured other than Perkins. Following the incident, she was flown to the HCA Florida Lawnwook Hospital.
Sailfish are similar to swordfish with the characteristic pointed bills extending out. These bills have small tooth-like protrusions, sometimes used for jabbing or slashing at the prey. Additionally, they are one of the fastest fishes with a recorded speed of 109km/h. As per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, they grow as big as 11 feet in length and can weigh up to 220 pounds. As per National Geographic, they usually fight with force after being hooked. Hence, it can take hours to land one of them. (https://www.solidstonefabrics.com)