Courtesy photo/Central Florida News 13
Casey Erickson, 18, of Wisconsin, was stung on one of his fingers by a 1-foot stingray while fishing with his father Monday at Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- An 18-year-old Wisconsin visitor was stung on the hand Monday by a 1-foot stingray while fishing with his father at the Smyrna Dunes Park, but the bite was not serious, the Volusia County Beach Patrol said.
Casey Ericksonwas unhooking a stingray his father caught when it stuck one of its barbs into his right thumb. He drove with his father to Bert Fish Medical Center where he had his hand dipped into hot water which eased and then eventually resulted in him losing the stinging sensation he felt.
Beach Patrol spokesman Capt. Scott Petersohn said such attacks are rare and the danger is minimal.
"It feels like on nail, but that's about it," Petersohn said. "Everyone gets worked up when they hear about something like this because of (TV Crocodile Hunter) Steve Irwin being killed by a much larger stingray."