Stingray kills sunbathing woman on boat in Florida Keys
By Associated Press
Originally published 01:15 p.m., March 20, 2008
Updated 04:16 p.m., March 20, 2008
MARATHON — Officials say a Michigan woman died after a stingray jumped out of the water and struck her in the upper body in the Florida Keys.
Wildlife officials say the spotted eagle ray hit 57-year-old Judy Kay Zagorski of Pigeon, Mich., in the face or neck while she was in a boat with her family Thursday. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the death.
Officials say it's not clear whether the animal's barb struck her, or if the impact killed her. It's also not clear how big it was. The incident occurred near Vaca Key in Marathon, located in the Middle Keys of the island chain.
Spotted eagle rays can grow up to 17 feet in length, weigh up to 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 tip at the end of their tail as a defense mechanism.
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