Croc Hunter, Steve Irwin, Killed by Stingray

[Fish_Eye]

I've filmed enormous sting rays off of Block Island and as close as Stinky Beach right next to Scarborough Beach. Sting rays found locally can be up to five feet wide and have up to three spines on their tail; each one like a saw with as many as 40 edges. It’s no wonder Steve died instantly, it was like being stabbed with a bayonet dipped in poison.

I can’t believe Steve swam over the bloody ray. It’s one thing to be next to a ray or even in front of it, but never swim over one on purpose.

Two years ago I did extensive filming of a torpedo ray off of Jamestown, RI. If you ever land one of these paddle tailed rays with a very thick body, by all means, do not grab it…they can throw a 220 volt charge up to 8 feet away from their body. Torpedo rays have been suspected of accidentally killing divers by shocking them enough to cause problems with breathing. Needless to say, I approached the electric ray with caution…obviously I didn’t want him to fry my video camera.

Here’s a very large sting ray I filmed off Jupiter, Florida this July. The tail was nearly 10 feet long and although I swam straight at it to get one of the shots below, I definitely avoided going over it. Although I didn’t have to worry about being electrocuted by this ray the violent lightning storm that hit while was in the water was another matter.

If you catch a big ray just cut the line.