Wader stung by stingray off Merritt Island

Authorities say a beachgoer is recovering after being stung by a stingray off Florida's central Atlantic coast.

[Sylvester Cat]

In certain areas you just have to be extra cautious about wading, particularly where the water is murky and you cannot see the bottom. Dad always told us to shuffle our feet so that we wouldn't accidentally step down on a hidden horseshoe crab or sting ray. I always wore heavy sneakers and thick jeans but a ray or horseshoe barb easily could penetrate boots or waders if you jammed your foot down on them. Sliding your feet along pushes them along out of the way and keeping your eyes focused down where you are heading goes a long way too.

[concern in cocoa]

This person is a crybaby .I have been cut 2 times by sting rays.It hurts a little but by running hot water over the wound the pain goes away. Stories like this should not make the newspapers but with all the annoying creatures off brevard beaches its proof our beaches should never be on the 10 best beach catorgery on the travel channel.

[just spitballing here]

Someone gets stung by a stingray while wading in the ocean...How is this news?

It's like, man jumps into ocean, walks out wet...

[Mark]

The uneducated morons in the media should try to do a little research before saying that someone was "stung" by a sting ray.
Sting rays stay on the bottom and have the barbs as a protective mechanism for predators. The only way he could get stung is to have not shuffled and walked over and onto the stinger. It isn't like they do drive bys.

[Chloe]

Hmmm. I was stung by a stingray while I was wading in the Gulf, and while it really, really hurt and my leg turned purple, I didn't go to the hospital (because the park ranger told me to soak my foot in epsom salts and it would stop hurting in three hours--he was right), and my adventure was not chronicled in the daily newspaper. Why is this a story?

[Who Cares]

Must have been a slow weekend huh? I know you think it is news about a sting ray "attack" ever since Steve Irwin, but that too is old news.

Get with the times and report real news......my neighbor got bit by a dog this weekend. Call me for the story.

[SurferDave]

Yeah, it hurts. So does stepping on a dead catfish at night, but its not newsworthy.
Sting rays get stepped, jellyfish drift into people,caught fish bite idiots who stick their fingers in their mouths, and life goes on.

[Linda]

One time, I was stung by a wasp in my yard. I should have called the Slantinel.

[Roger the Shrubber]

I was attacked by a fierce swarm of no-see-um's at Sebastian this weekend! Call the media,stat!

[UCF TailGator]

just spitballing here wrote:

Someone gets stung by a stingray while wading in the ocean...How is this news?
It's like, man jumps into ocean, walks out wet...

LOL I was thinking the same thing. STOP the presses I was just stung by a mosquito. AAAAAHHHHH!

[UCF TailGator]

Felipe Burrito Enchilada wrote:

Quick, send a reporter to Cocoa Beach. A couple relaxing on the beach were attacked by a group of sand fleas!

Those werent fleas, and they werent relaxing.

[RGAG]

Am curious: the article said it was off Merritt Island....that's either the Indian or Banana river; not the ocean

[Okie Dokie]

How did this merit a news story? In the paper? FL is surrounded by salt water, what do you think is going to happen when you step into it? Geez, next thing you know there'll be a story on how someone's finger was pinched by a fiddler crab and an ambulence was called.

[Jenn]

I was stung by a stingray just yesterday at Anna Maria Island here in Florida. In fact I was doing the "Stingray Shuffle" near the shore, the water was cold so they were near the shore to keep warm. So, the stingray shuffle does not prevent a sting 100%. His barb went in the arch of my right foot and was the worst pain in my life, but luckily some extremely hot water for 1.5 hours fixed me right up. Thank you to the Holmes Beach lifeguard!

BUT this is not really newsworthy, just a normal thing.

[watergirl]

im so afraid to go in the ocean because of stingrays. its hard to get over this stupid fear. i dont even go in the water.