A tragic incident unfolded during a family boat trip in the Florida Keys, resulting in the death of Judy Kay Zagorski, a 57-year-old mother from Michigan. The fatal event occurred when a massive spotted eagle ray unexpectedly leaped out of the water, striking Judy in the face in what experts have described as a rare occurrence.
The incident took place near Marathon on Vaca Key’s Atlantic Ocean side in the spring of 2008. Judy was seated at the front of the boat, traveling at approximately 25 mph, when the 75-pound ray, with a wingspan of about six feet, suddenly emerged from the sea and collided with her. Despite not showing any signs of venomous barb wounds, the impact of the ray’s leap caused fatal injuries, leading to Judy’s immediate death from blunt force trauma, including multiple skull fractures and severe brain injury.
Fortunately, Judy’s sister, Joyce Ann Miller, who was standing nearby, escaped unharmed. Judy’s father, Virgil Bouck, was steering the boat, and her mother, Verneta, was also present during the tragic incident as the family enjoyed their spring holiday together. The ray was discovered lifeless on the boat after the collision. Wildlife experts have characterized the incident as an extraordinary accident, as spotted eagle rays are typically non-threatening and only use their poisonous tail spines for self-defense.
Although these rays are known for leaping out of the water to evade predators or remove parasites, interactions with humans are extremely rare. Spotted eagle rays can grow up to 500 pounds with wingspans reaching ten feet and are protected under Florida’s conservation laws, usually gliding peacefully underwater.
Judy’s untimely passing deeply impacted her community and fellow vacationers. Her brother, Dan Bouck, described her as an exceptional sister who devoted her time to assisting terminally ill patients and managing Beadle Bay Marina and Campground with her late husband, Steve Zagorski.
Experts have highlighted the rarity of such incidents, noting that while there have been occasional reports of rays landing in boats before, documented deaths are exceedingly uncommon. This tragedy has drawn comparisons to other notable encounters involving sea creatures, such as the unfortunate incident involving Steve Irwin in Australia.
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