Bathers warned Stingray sting may cause respiratory problems

By Anele Siwa
12 February 2008

On Monday afternoon 29-year-old surfer Ryan Koch from Roxy’s Surf School in Kommetjie was treated for a small puncture wound on the top of his right foot at Muizinberg Surfer’s Corner.

Craig Lambinon NSRI spokesperson says Koch rejected ambulance transportation to hospital after Cape Medical Response paramedics recommended that he go to hospital to have his injury treated further.

According to Lambinon when Koch went home later on the day the pain became intolerable and he went to a local hospital where has been treated for pain relief.

Lambinon says at first the survivor thought a crab grabbed him, but he then recognize that it was a stingray.

A similar incident has occurred early this year at the same place where six people were treated for stingray stings.

“The Working on Sharks shark spotters will warn bathers at Muizinberg surfers’ corner over the next few days of this incident and caution will be advised,” says Lambinon.

Lambinon says the blue stingray sting is not known to be life-threatening regardless of the severe pain that regularly follows a sting. He adds that a sensitive reaction to a stingray’s sting may cause some respiratory suffering.