A Top End fisherman had to be flown to Darwin from a remote community in East Arnhem Land after he was speared by a stingray.
The 47-year-old had been fishing in the ocean at around 1am yesterday when he came in contact with the fish, which penetrated his lower leg with its barb.
The man tried to remove the barb unsuccessfully, leaving an 8cm long piece protruding from his shin.
He drove to the Gapuwiyak health clinic - about two hours away - before CareFlight was alerted to the man’s plight and sent a medical team on a Kingair turbo-prop aircraft to transfer the man to Royal Darwin Hospital.
He was in good spirits and was able to walk on and off the plane.
CareFlight operates the Top End Medical Retrieval Service which provides medical rescue and retrieval services to people across the Top End, on behalf of the NT Government.
Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
