Kiteboarder meets Needlefish

[mcp]

It was day 5 of a planned 2 week trip at the OBX, we were at Sandy Bay, just north of Hatteras. It was 7:30 in the morning, just my friend Deb and I were there, she was out about 20 minutes and came in and launched me, I was out less than a minute when I was hit hard in my front leg I looked down and saw I was bleeding profusely, I got back in and painfully walked to my van, Deb got the bleeding slowed down and then went for more medical supplies and came back with the EMS in tow. They redressed the injury and convinced me that I needed a tetanus shot, Deb drove me to urgent care in Kill Devil Hills, well over an hour north, by the time I got inside, I was bleeding a lot, they stopped the bleeding, gave me a tetanus shot, and took and X-ray, they saw a large object in the calf near the bone. Soon, people were coming in to look at the X-ray and asking what the hell is it?" They sent me to Outer Banks Hospital where the same scene ensued. Many people coming in to have a look at the X-ray, later that night the anesthesiologist thought it was a set of needlefish jaws. The surgeon is a kiteboarder and did a great job. I was walking the next day, everyone at Urgent Care and Outer Banks Hospital were great. I've been kiteboarding 16 months now and have been helped countless times, mostly by people that did not know me, when something serious happens it is good to have someone capable around and my friend Deb is very capable. She was there with the first aid, stowed all my gear, got me to the hospital, got my van moved to a secure place, kept tabs on my progress, then was there to pick me up.

4_Incision.jpeg (56.49 KiB) Viewed 1571 times

[ham-er]

Wow, so it actually hit you like a spear and snapped off?

Quite unbelievable...lucky you weren't too far away in the sea

I stepped on metal object bare foot last year and cut bottom of my foot quite a bit, wasn't as bad, but I was out of action for weeks

I didn't feel much when I was in the water, just realised how bad it was when I got to the shore

Thanks for sharing, get well soon

[mcp]

that's a serious hit ! Unexpected for sure...too bad you didn't record the discussion about what it is

Thx for sharing...and wishing a speedy recovery.

The good news is, 99.99999% you won't have this happening again

[Greenturtle]

GNARLY

[SSK]

Its rare but not not unheard of. I know of two other people in OBX where that has happened and i have had plenty of close calls. My friend thought he had been shot it hurt so bad. The vibration from the board must spook them and cause them to jump when approached.. The bad thing is they jump calf high for that nice target.

[Kamikuza]

Some one is getting a paper out of that

[ralu81]

Two months ago I was in the Bahamas and had a needle fish jump out and try to spear me as well. Fortunately for me he was little and only bruised me. I saw it all happen to. I made a couple passes in the area where it was about 1/2 mile from shore and looked over my shoulder right as he jumped out of the water. Hit me in the hip area right on my swim suite.

[UKSurf]

Evolution did not do a great job on that fish - its jaw falls off if it bites something. Seems you got off lightly some people have been seriously injured or killed by these things. This professional kitesurfer was seriously injured by one: http://www.kitekahunas.com/german_speed ... quirements.

[hookedcook]

Kind of crazy bad luck, you hear these random crazy stories every now and then. I live and work on boats and mother ocean is an interesting character. In the famous words of Captain Ron. If anythings going to happen out here. Glad your safe and lived to kite another day. I'm a fishing guide, play the lottery man because the odds of that happing are a million to one
.

[Bille]

...
The bad thing is they jump calf high for that nice target.

Let the Little Bastard , just Bring it ON !!!!! LOL

Bille