Touch tank aquariums around the globe may have to reconsider their stance on allowing human contact with stingrays. Quentin Tokar, 10, joins The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, on the list of people who have recently been seriously injured by the velvety sea creatures.
Tokar was on vacation in the Outer Banks with his family last week when a nearby fisherman caught a stingray. He tried to pull the animal's long, pointy tail off (I assume because it's inedible?) but the dagger went flying. It came to a stop, impaled in Tokar's chest, and hitting his liver.
Tokar estimates that the tail flew eight to ten feet through the air before nestling in his body. The five inch barb was almost entirely absorbed by his body.
"I don't really have words for what it felt like. I just pretty much started screaming, 'Get it outta me,'" he said.
Tokar was rushed to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center where the tail was removed. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Apparently a nurse happened to be on site at the pier and prevented Tokar from almost certain death. Irwin pulled the tail out of his body following his stingray encounter and quickly died from blood loss. Bystanders wanted to do the same for Tokar and while that would seem like a normal reaction, it is exactly the opposite of what you should do. The nurse ensured that Tokar didn't suffer Irwin's fate.
So if you ever get impaled by a stingray tail, don't pull it out. Seek professional help.
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