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The celluloid tails of giant sharks jumping on to boats and devouring everything in sight may be works of fiction from movies like Jaws. But occasionally a giant underseas dweller making their presence known above the water line happens. This weekend in the Florida Keys, just off Islamorada, a woman was trapped underneath a 300-pound eagle ray after it jumped aboard a boat.
A family had rented out a charter boat for a day of fishing this past weekend when suddenly the giant cartilaginous fish jumped aboard the fish and knocked over tourist Jenny Hausch.
According to CBS Miami, captain Kelly Klein, a co-owner of Two Chicks charters, quickly moved children aboard the boat away from the fish but was unable to get the beast off of Hausch.
A nearby Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission heard screams caused by the commotion and went to investigate. The crew was able to get the fish off of Hausch and released it back to the water. Hausch was unharmed but a little startled.
Eagle Rays can reach up to 30 feet in width and are known for their ability to leap out of the water. Human interacts aren’t all that common, but a 75-pound eagle ray landed in a boat back in 2008 off the Florida Keys. The boat was moving at around 55 mph, and the ray hit a woman. Both died due to the impact.
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