A woman on a family boating trip was hit by a leaping fish, which left her unconscious and knocked her out of the boat.
Brianne H. Megargel (32) was with her husband and 10-year-old son on their 17' open boat on the Suwannee River near Manatee Springs State Park in Florida when a leaping sturgeon, weighing around 70 lbs/32 kg jumped out of the water and hit her. She was knocked unconscious by the blow and the force of the impact sent her into the water.
Her husband, Stephen (42) jumped into the river to rescue her while their son Grayson continued to operate the boat. The two of them managed to get her back onto the boat and took her to Manatee Springs State Park. She was transported by helicopter to hospital where she was treated for multiple injuries.
It is the second such incident this year. In May a man was injured when he collided with a sturgeon that jumped out of the Suwannee River in front of his boat.
This is the usual season for Gulf sturgeon to begin their annual migration back into the Suwannee River. Last year six boaters were hurt and 11 other encounters with the fish were reported.
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