Stingray Attack South Australia has left a 68-year-old woman feeling incredibly fortunate to be alive after a rare and frightening encounter in the ocean.
Pam Bennett was snorkeling about 50 meters off the coast at Treasure Cove, located on South Australia’s southern Yorke Peninsula, when a stingray unexpectedly struck her. The creature’s 6-inch barb pierced her arm in what she described as a terrifying and unusual incident.
“I didn’t even see it coming — it must have come from behind and deliberately jabbed. That’s not how stingrays usually behave,” Bennett told ABC. “Moments later, I felt the barb drive into my arm.”
Bennett was part of a marine life survey team investigating a spike in fish deaths in the area when she was attacked. She suffered a deep wound just above her right elbow, with blood pouring out as the stingray’s barb lodged dangerously close to her brachial artery.
Stingray Attack South Australia Nearly Turns Fatal
Marine biologist Mike Bossle, who was with Bennett during the snorkeling trip, called her courageous for remaining calm while heavily bleeding.
“We needed to get Pam out of the water quickly—she was losing a lot of blood. But she stayed remarkably composed,” he told News.com.au.
After being rushed to Yorketown Hospital, Bennett was transferred to a hospital in Adelaide where surgeons successfully removed the barb. Thankfully, it had not punctured her artery.
“It was lying right alongside the brachial artery but hadn’t gone through it. Honestly, I could’ve ended up like Steve Irwin,” she said, referencing the famous Australian wildlife expert who died after a stingray strike in 2006.
Stingray Attack South Australia Sparks Safety Reminder
Despite the frightening ordeal, Bennett says she still finds stingrays to be “beautiful animals” and feels incredibly lucky to have survived. “In hindsight, it’s like winning the lottery — I can’t believe it was me and not a young kid,” she said.
The South Australian Department for Environment and Water emphasizes that stingrays are often misunderstood and typically non-aggressive.
“They’re naturally curious and gentle. If they feel threatened, they usually swim away,” the department stated. “Always respect their space, never corner them, and be mindful of their tails.”
Stingray Attack South Australia incidents like this are exceedingly rare but serve as important reminders to stay cautious and informed when exploring marine environments.
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Source: www.people.com
