Fisherman Jumps In And Stabs Swordfish – The Fish Swerves And Stabs Him Back, Killing Him
A swordfish’s retaliatory strike has killed a man in Hawaii. The fisherman had jumped in water to stab the fish, but was struck back by it instead. The impaled fisherman did not survive the reciprocal assault.
A Honokohau Harbor charter boat captain and fisherman succumbed to injuries sustained while tackling a swordfish off the coast of a beach in Hawaii. A swordfish that he was tackling struck back, impaling him in the chest. Hawaii police identified the victim as 47-year-old Randy Llanes of Kailua-Kona.
The freak accident happened near noon at Honokohau harbor in Kailua-Kona. According to eye-witness accounts and Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Llanes was on a routine excursion when he spotted a broadbill swordfish swimming in the back area of the harbor near the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) harbor office.
Though swordfishes aren’t rare or endangered, it is not advisable to go after them, unless you know exactly what you are getting into. These fishes are very strong and agile, especially in their element – an open sea. Even experienced fishermen are known to steer clear of these predatory fishes and go after smaller catch.
However, Randy Llanes had other plans. After spotting the broadbilled swordfish swimming in the harbor, the fisherman actually thought of killing the fish by diving in and striking it. Using a spear gun, Llanes managed to strike the fish, but it wasn’t a fatal blow. While fishes are known to scramble away, the swordfish must have been quite aggravated and decided to go for a retaliatory assault instead of retreating.
Eye witnesses said the swordfish swerved around and struck the man in the chest with its sharp bill. Profusely bleeding and unresponsive, the fisherman was pulled ashore by onlookers. One of the onlookers even administered Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) until the Hawaii Fire Department arrived. Though he was swiftly loaded onto an ambulance and rushed to Kona Community Hospital, the fisherman succumbed to the fatal blow.
Even while the Hawaii Police Department officers have initiated an inquiry, taking detailed statements from witnesses, the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources officers have begun a parallel investigation into the incident.
As for the swordfish, when the DLNR staff went out to sea looking for it, they only came across its carcass. Apparently, the fish’s body length and the length of its bill were nearly same – 3 feet. Looks like a 40-pound fish had bravely fought a fisherman, but didn’t survive.
[Image Credit | Jeff Rotman / Getty Images, KITV4 News]
