http://video.nbc6.net/player/?id=231235

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 the 55-year-old woman in the face or neck while she was in a boat with her family Thursday in Marathon. Her name and hometown aren't being released yet.

Officials say it's not clear whether the animal's barb struck her, or if the impact killed her.

Authorities say the spotted-eagle ray weighed about 75 pounds.

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.

Wildlife officials say it's not unusual for the animal to jump into the air, but it is rare for them to collide with something.

"They can jump pretty high. I can't tell you how many feet - but they do jump high," said Joanne Adams of Florida Fish and Wildlife. "We see the sting rays jumping out there a lot. They are big, but usually they just jump and go about their business."

But she says if the ray is pursued, it will defend itself - even if that means leaving the water.

"If you do see one jumping, watch it from afar, enjoy it, but don't get up on it. God forbid, something like this would ever happen again," said Adams.

The animals are not aggressive and use the venomous tip at the end of their tail as a defense mechanism.

 

Yep.

According to the sources reporting it here in Germany, she was killed on impact due to the heavy weight, hitting her head.

 

really sucks.. condolences to her family.

 

the video states that she wasnt struck by the barb... just hit my the animal itself....

this already happened once already after the incident with the Crocodile Hunter's death ( May he rest in peace). A man got struck by a sting ray that jumped out of the water and struck him and he was cruising in a boat.... and now it happens again with this woman....

talk about "when its your time to go, its your time to go!"... may she be in a better place

orlee