Thai Navy Cadet Killed by Fish while training

[islandguy11]

In weird fish related news...

BANGKOK — December 13, 2018 11:56 am — A naval Special Forces cadet died in a freak accident while training off the coast of Trat province, the navy said Thursday.

Kriangsak Pengpanich, 22, was swimming Wednesday in the open sea when a carnivorous, shallow-water fish struck him in the neck at high speed, the navy said in a statement. Kriangsak, who served in the marine corps, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2018/12/13/navy-recon-trainee-killed-by-fish/

Turns out it was Needlefish...

 

[Fat Homer]

That is steve irwin level of crazy... i mean what are the chances a needle nose fish would hit you in the neck while in the open ocean... seems your chances of winning the lottery would be higher...

 

[kno4te]

Ouch! Bad way to go.

 

[islandguy11]

That is steve irwin level of crazy... i mean what are the chances a needle nose fish would hit you in the neck while in the open ocean... seems your chances of winning the lottery would be higher...

My same exact thoughts Fat Homer -- though the article doesn't 100% really clarify if it was just an accidental collision (which I agree is most likely) or whether they actually had to pry its jaws off his neck. They use the words "attacked by" later in the article but that could just be something lost in translation from the original Thai article. That said if it were just a collision I'm thinking they're kinda lucky to have recovered the dead fish in open sea.

 

[Fat Homer]

Now that you mention it, im going to go with the jaws locked onto the neck idea... Unless they were doing group training in close proximity when it happened?

Otherwise you’re quite right in saying how on earth did they recover the fish...

 

[Renegade Aquatics]

To my knowledge this isn't the first time a needle fish has killed someone. They can jump or swim at a fairly high rate of speed when startled, essentially makes them a living meter long spear. If I recall correctly there was a boy who went night fishing and was unfortunate enough to find one in eye socket.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00329055
Two other deaths were caused by needle fish as well (not including this new one), however I found this one most interesting just because of the details. There's been a few injuries from them as well.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

That is steve irwin level of crazy... i mean what are the chances a needle nose fish would hit you in the neck while in the open ocean... seems your chances of winning the lottery would be higher...

Happens about every year or so off Florida, they call the fish houndfish there tho

 

[Deadliestviper7]

My same exact thoughts Fat Homer -- though the article doesn't 100% really clarify if it was just an accidental collision (which I agree is most likely) or whether they actually had to pry its jaws off his neck. They use the words "attacked by" later in the article but that could just be something lost in translation from the original Thai article. That said if it were just a collision I'm thinking they're kinda lucky to have recovered the dead fish in open sea.

They get spooked and jump or dart into people by accident, usually this results in a penetration type wound

 

[islandguy11]

They get spooked and jump or dart into people by accident, usually this results in a penetration type wound

Yep DV7 in fact I'd bet this is the more likely scenario then having it's jaws locked around his neck; it probably speared him which is how they could collect the fish. I'll bet his cadet mates that were in the water are somewhat doubting their career choice.