Stingray Horror: Woman Impaled by 6-Inch Barb in Shocking Attack!

Pam Bennett, aged 68, experienced a frightening incident while snorkeling in Australia, where she was unexpectedly struck by a stingray.

Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Bennett, who volunteers as a marine researcher, shared that during her snorkeling activity, she found herself floating directly over a stingray unexpectedly.

Despite swiftly swimming to avoid the sea creature, Bennett soon felt the sting of the ray’s barb pierce her arm. “I didn’t actually see the stingray—it came from behind, I believe. It had attacked me,” she explained. “This behavior is abnormal for them.”

After the attack, Bennett managed to float back to shore on her back, her arm bleeding significantly from a wound just above her right elbow.

Mike Bossley, who was snorkeling with Bennett, recounted the urgent moments following her injury. “We needed to get Pam out of the water fast because she was losing a lot of blood,” he said. “But she remained incredibly calm throughout the ordeal.”

Medical Response to Stingray Injury

Upon reaching the hospital, it was determined that Bennett’s injury was perilously close to the brachial artery, though fortunately, the six-inch stingray barb had not hit the artery itself.

Reflecting on the incident, Bennett remarked, “I could have ended up like Steve Irwin,” referencing the beloved conservationist who passed away from a stingray injury in 2006. “Looking back, I feel incredibly lucky it wasn’t worse, especially that it didn’t happen to a child instead of me.”

Bennett underwent surgery to remove the barb entangled in her arm muscle. Post-surgery, she reported only some bruising and soreness but was otherwise healthy.

Despite the harrowing experience, Bennett’s admiration for stingrays hasn’t waned. “They’re usually very shy, gentle, and stunning creatures,” she said.

The South Australian Department for Environment and Water echoed Bennett’s sentiments, describing stingrays as “misunderstood.” The department advised, “Stingrays are not aggressive by nature. They can be curious and playful around divers and snorkelers, but they prefer to flee if they feel threatened. It’s crucial to respect their space and avoid any actions that may corner or threaten them. Always be cautious of their tail and never touch the barb.”