Needlefish stabs diver to death in Vietnam

[DevilDiver]

I alway thought these stories were urban legend???

HANOI, Vietnam (10 Sep 2007) -- A 16-year-old Vietnamese boy has died after being stabbed through the heart by a needlefish as he was diving for seafood in northern Vietnam, a policeman said Monday.
The meter-long fish - a type of gar with a long, pointed snout - stabbed diver Duong Trong Anh in the chest as he was diving for sea cucumber, according to Ta Van Quynh, deputy police chief of Halong Bay district, 200 kilometers east of Hanoi.
The boy was in 2 meters of water when the accident happened Friday, Quynh said.
The boy's diving companions saw the fish stuck in the chest of their friend and pulled the needle-like snout out, the policeman said.
"Anh died from the wound soon after," Quynh said.
According to Quynh, the fish might have been startled by the divers and tried to swim away but accidently hit Anh with its 15-centimeter-long snout, according to the policeman.

[Capt Hook]

Man, you just never know!

[wxboy911]

Seems like Steve Irwin died from a stab wound to the chest...time to redesign wetsuits with a chest protector?

[gtjason2000]

Yep, just put a little metal plate there and it would compensate for the buoyant neoprene. It probably wouldn't stay on, too much stress at the edges. Also if I am ever diving with any of you guys and I get stabbed by something don't yank it out.

[lucidblue]

That's disturbing... .

[divingmedic]

It is like the time I made a guy that was stabbed in the chest with a knife, his "friends" pulled it out then asked me "Is he going to live?" I said" He would have if you had not pulled the knife out". Never ever remove an object stuck in major body part.

[ScubaToys Larry]

Not that they are probably on this forum... and what you guys say about leaving any thing in place is correct... but these were 16 year old kids, and the fish was probably thrashing about - and they did what they thought was right. Yes... might have been better to kill the fish, cut it off with the piercing in place - but who knows if that would have helped either.

[quarrydiver]

won't be showing this thread to the wife...

[DivingsInMyBlood]

thats horrible to read, you just have to respect everything you never know what could end your life.

[kevinj1]

sometimes I have a very hard time believing these stories------I just dont want to believe that these creatures can cause so much harm that easily.
absolutely crazy