Eagle ray soars onto boat, body slams woman

By Todd Wright

NBCMIAMI.com NBCMIAMI.com

updated 1 hour 23 minutes ago

 

Spotted eagle rays aren't really supposed to fly, but a 300-pounder took flight in the Florida Keys this weekend to the surprise of an unsuspecting boater.

Jenny Hausch, a tourist from Illinois, was on a charter boat off the coast of Islamorado when the giant ray propelled itself out of the ocean and landed on top of her, CBS4 reported.

The marine body slam shocked everyone in the boat, who struggled to get the spotted eagle ray out of the boat and back into its habitat.

It was the second time this month a sea-bound animal decided to take a boat ride. A dolphin jumped onto a boat in Marco Island and sprained a woman's ankle.

It took the help of two Florida Fish and Wildlife officers who happened to be passing by the boat to get Hausch from under the animal and get the ray back in the water.

Rays are known to breach the waters surface, but usually hunt near the ocean floor for shrimp, crabs and other crustaceans.

Like most rays, spotted eagles are equipped with venomous spines in their tails.

In 2008, a spotted eagle ray jumped out of the waters near Marco Island and onto a speeding boat. It hit a woman, who died from the impact.

Luckily, Hausch escaped with no injuries from her fish tale.