String/ eagle/ bat rays in swan river

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albentley
albentley
NSW
297 posts
NSW, 297 posts
13 Dec 2011 3:20pm
Howdie

Was sailing at the spot up from Burke drive yesterday on the sandbar and there was definitely some big things moving around. Looked like some kind of ray as saw something about 0.5m size moving around. Also when we stopped on the sandbar every now and then there would be a big movement in the water...

www.google.com:443/maps?q=-32.020193,115.812442&hl=en&t=h&z=17&vpsrc=0

Anyone who sail around there know if these are any kind of dangerous rays?? Might just be some big fish if not...

Hopefully its safe as its a great flat water spot for freestyle in easterly wind...

Thanks!!

Al
Obelix
Obelix
WA
1173 posts
WA, 1173 posts
13 Dec 2011 1:56pm
Rays digging for shellfish would create a lot of commotion in the shallows.
They are not dangerous, unless you step on them in which case, they may cause you an ugly injury with their tail barb.

So, don't step on them
Stuthepirate
Stuthepirate
SA
3591 posts
SA, 3591 posts
13 Dec 2011 4:32pm
Iv'e never seen a Stringray before.
25
25
WA
319 posts
25 25
WA, 319 posts
14 Dec 2011 10:23pm
not wanting to alarm but I recall there were reports of a shark[s] [presumably small bull / SR whaler] taking birds up that way last year early morning. There are some shallow spots where pelicans, terns etc roost at lower tides. Dog walker or similar early morning venturer reported it.
albentley
albentley
NSW
297 posts
NSW, 297 posts
15 Dec 2011 3:40pm
hmmm ok sooooo super safe then

the sand bar is only about 15 cm deep surely no room for sharks there.. and hopefully the rays would move when they feel a board coming
recycle
recycle
WA
79 posts
WA, 79 posts
15 Dec 2011 7:33pm
I would not recomend complacency around rays even very small ones ,I trod on one(3 weeks ago at cervantes) buried in the sand as they do, it was about the size of a dinner plate it arched itself over and drove its barb into the top of my foot leaving a cocktail of poisions one that has a cobbler like effect (couple of hrs of intense pain) the other toxins have a necrotic effect killing the flesh in the area, this coupled with the bacteria present even with antibiotics can lead to infection that is very difficult to deal with,amputations are not uncommon as a result of stingray barb wounds in less piveledged parts of the world.I ended up in hospital a week after the wounding, they cut it open scraped all the dead smelly stuff out stitched it up and drained several litres of antibiotics into my arm and sent me home the next day,that was a week ago still got another week of antibiotics to go and another couple of weeks before its healed enough to attempt sailing.Best case at this point will be 6 weeks of the water.
My advice if you every suffer a ray barb go straight to emergency (not to a gp for a antibiotics as I did) where they will treat it more aggressively.
Windxtasy
Windxtasy
WA
4019 posts
WA, 4019 posts
15 Dec 2011 10:11pm
Sorry to hear that John, it must be tough for you to stay off the water, but at least Huey's been making it a lot less tempting.
tobyhodgso
tobyhodgso
WA
300 posts
WA, 300 posts
16 Dec 2011 6:51am
Best wishes for your recovery Recycle.
albentley
albentley
NSW
297 posts
NSW, 297 posts
16 Dec 2011 12:50pm
maybe its not such a good spot - will be careful after reading that!!
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