Child suffers suspected barracuda attack

| 03/08/2010

(CNS): An 11-year-old boy is recovering in the hospital after an attack by what was probably a barracuda on Sunday. The child has suffered a serious hand injury after being bitten while playing in the ocean at public beach by what he said was a very big fish, News 27 reports.  The boy says he was so frightened that he thought it was a dream, but when he look down at his hand and saw thatit was bleeding, he realized it wasn’t and he was taken to the hospital. A Department of Environment spokesperson said it was likely to be a barracuda going after bait fish and it would have bitten the child by mistake as such attacks are very rare.

 

Category: Local News

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  1. Constance says:

    What is this nonsense I am seeing in here about kill or be killed?!

    Leave those animals let dem be.

    how would u feel if someone was trying to kill u? that is certainly incorreck.

    absolutely atracious!

    all i see is pearr sheep -_-

  2. ex-pat Eric says:

    While scuba diving, I’d rather see a shark in the water than a barracuda — those things scare the crap out me. They follow you around and are just looking for an opportunity!

    Not that they would ever keep me out of the water and I hope this young boy realizes it was a freak accident.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Heard in the news today from Miami that there was another child bitten by a barracuda in Key West too.  Maybe they are all retaliating agains people now???  Here is the link to the news.

    http://cbs4.com/local/michelle.casasola.barracuda.2.1840378.html

    • Pauly Cicero says:

      Could they be displaced from the Gulf by the oil? Lots of shark sightings along the US east coast.

  4. Anonymous says:

     A kraken.. lets get serious, they don’t live in the Caribbean…

     

  5. Anonymous says:

    I saw the kid on TV and he is obviously in shock over the ordeal, poor little guy started to cry. It might be a nice gesture to reward him for being a brave little guy and try to find ways to encourage him to return to the water. In his present state i doubt he will ever venture back in, but he will miss out on so much if he doesnt. this was an isolated incident and he should be somehow encouraged to overcome his fear.

    The next Barra I catch will be consumed with vengence mark my words!

    Bad Kraken Bad Bad Kraken!

     

    • Barra says:

      Hope you get ciguterra.

      • Mermaid Queen says:

        C’mon Barra!! Now that’s not nice!! LOL………. (and it’s spelled ciguatera)

    • Anonymous says:

      I found it exploitive of News 27 to interview the child while he was, clearly, still traumatized. The mother probably didn’t realize she should just run them all off.

  6. anonymous says:

    If the child was wearing a watch in the water it most likely was a Barracuda.  Never wear shiny objects in the waters, as the barracudas are attracted to them.  Most times they are chasing silver fish to feed on and if they see a silver watch on someone’s wrist or a silver chain, most likely they will jump out of the water and bite at the silver objects, albeit being a hand, ankle or neck. Take precautions everyone, whilst swimming along the beaches.

    • Faithful says:

      Also do not wear a wedding ring as it also has the same effect.

      Anyway that’s the excuse I’ve been using for a while

  7. Anonymous says:

    Poor child, that would be a serious fright!  However are we sure that is was a barracuda?  There are a lot of dangerous creatures in these waters..

    • Anonymous says:

      yeah it was probably a kraken!

      what are you trying to insinuate? DOE thinks its barra, the kid thinks its a barra, any fisherman worth his salt would hazard a guess that its a barra this close in, over a sandy bottom.

      Let me guess, you would now like us to kill all dangerous creatures in the sea?

      • Anonymous says:

        Bermuda Chub and Sgt Majors regularly bite swimmers, so a fair question

        • Swimmer says:

          Sgt Majors LOL

          true they bite but come on you would hardly have to go to hospital, maybe some Piranahs  made the jump from fresh to sea water and swam up from the Amazon.

          • Anonymous says:

            I dare you to float motionless at Cemetary Reef and see what happens…

            • Swimmer says:

              I have many times, the little Sgt mjrs take tiny bites. I have yet to have been hospitalised from them or even to have used a band aid. I would even rather have a sgt mjr bite than a mosquito bite.

              Please can some one let me know how many people on the entire [palnet have ever needed hospitalisation from Sgt mjr fish bites.

      • Anonymous says:

         Hahaha, "…a Kraken!"

        Great response, I’m going to go with it was a Barra for 500 Bob!

         

        Hope the kid recovers nicely xo

      • Anonymous says:

        I agree, let’s set up a task force in each district to settle this.  We must kill them before they kill us.  The damn things are probably here illegally anyways.

    • more veggies please says:

       I fear there are far more dangerous land sharks 😛