Expert says stingrays jumping, "not uncommon"

By: Preston Rudie

St. Petersburg, Florida - A Florida man is in the hospital following what officials call a 'freak accident.'

James Bertakis was heading home after fishing on the Intracoastal in Southeast Florida this week when a stingray jumped into his boat. When Bertakis tried to get the ray out of his boat, the 81-year-old was struck by the animal's barb. Officials responding to the situation called it a 'freak accident.'

However, local experts say rays frequently jump out of the water. One reason, is to escape predators.

Eric Hovland, The Florida Aquarium:

"Escaping a predator certainly if you are chasing and a prey and suddenly it is out of your view and it lands at some other point, it can through off your predator very quickly."

Hovland says eagle rays can jump as high as 15 feet into the air. He adds while the act my surprise humans, he says again it's not uncommon.

Eric Hovland, The Florida Aquarium:

"They (rays) are almost in flight under the water as it is, so breaking the surface isn't that great a feet for them."

Hovland stresses rays do not jump in order to attack and says other fish, such as kingfish, sailfish and mullet are also know to jump into the air.