Man rushed to hospital after attack by stingray

A man was flown to hospital yesterday after being hit by a stingray at Riversdale, on the Wairarapa coast in the lower North Island.

Police said the man, in his early 30s, suffered moderate injuries to his lower leg.

Initial reports were that the injury came from a shark, but local residents confirmed it was from a stingray.

Riversdale Surf Life Saving Club executive member Jane Tiley said the man had been diving and was returning to the beach when the accident happened.

Logi Atkinson confirmed it was his son Reece Atkinson, 31, who had been hit by the ray.

He knew ‘‘bugger all’’ about what had happened other than getting a call to say his son – who had been out for a day trip from the family farm on the Wairarapa coast – was being airlifted to hospital.

Yesterday, Tiley said Atkinson was in pain. ‘‘It was not life-threatening, but he was in a lot of pain.’’

The incident took place in a remote area and his friends drove him to a nearby station, where he was picked up by the LifeFlight Westpac rescue helicopter.

Tiley said stingrays came in close to shore in warm weather and it was not the first time someone had been struck by one at the beach.

‘‘When people are out checking cray pots, there has been the occasional incident. The last was one was probably three years ago.’’

‘‘It was not lifethreatening, but he was in a lot of pain.’’ Jane Tiley, Riversdale Surf Life Saving Club

The chopper at the remote Wairarapa beach had caused a lot of interest and she said the helicopter service had saved the man ‘‘a long painful trip by ambulance’’.

Department of Conservation marine scientist Clinton Duffy said rays – either sting or eagle rays – stung only as a defensive measure. This was usually when people were swimming in the shallows of over kelp or rocks and chanced upon a ray.

The sting was actually a long, serrated spine that could strike with enough force to puncture the reinforced rubber of an inflatable boat. ‘‘It is quite debilitating pain.’’ It also contained a protein-based venom which could be ‘‘extremely painful’’, he said.

First aid involved treating for blood loss, then washing with water as hot as the victim could handle, bringing almost instant relief.