I was thinking of Steve Irwin and i'm confused about how he died. I've read some of the questions/answers on Yahoo but they don't explain what happened. It said on the TV that the stingrays Barb went into his heart, what is the barb and where does it come from?
2006-11-02 09:37:44 · 10 answers · asked by kasey4duke 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
Stingrays
Stingray injuries mostly occur when a person steps on the ray, either when climbing out of a boat in shallow sandy water or when running into such water. The stingray whips its poison barbed tail around, lacerating the foot or lower leg, sometimes leaving a portion of the barb behind. The mechanical injury can be severe, with fatal cases due to direct heart or bowel puncture or transection of major limb vessels. Nerve or tendon damage can occur. The venom causes intense local pain, which is heat susceptible, hence the value of hot water immersion as first aid
The barbs are covered in very small serrations, like arrow heads. As the ray pulls its tail from its victim the barbs ripped flesh open. It's like being stabbed by a serrated knife.
Sadly with Steve Irwin, he was stab in the chest piercing the heart, and he pulled the barb out, causing more damage, and profuse bleeding.
Please check out the first link a video link from Darryl Whitehead Uni of Queensland Australia, it explains how it happens etc.
2006-11-02 14:14:24 · answer #1 · answered by Georgie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The barb is a 6 - 8 inch long serrated bone half way along the tail of a stingray. If threatened, it whips its tail up and pushes the barb into the fish, person or whatever it is that is threatening the ray. In Steve's case the barb punctured his chest and went into his heart.
The natural reaction for anyone is to pull out the barb, which Steve did, resulting in his instant death by blood loss. If he hadn't had pulled it out, he may still be alive today. While the barb was in his heart it was plugging the hole.
2006-11-02 17:57:25 · answer #2 · answered by pampurredpuss 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the barb that they are talking about is on the end of the stingrays tail.......the barb has poison in it.....when the Steve swam over the top of the ray it startled the animal and it pushed the barb into Steve's chest, pierced his heart......it is still being debated whether the actual puncture killed him or whether it was the poison......they will probably never know because both happened within minutes of each other....I have heard some reports say that he died instantly and some say that he lived for a short while...we may never hear the whole story behind that horrific accident.
2006-11-02 17:45:16 · answer #3 · answered by kndykisz 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The barb is like a fish hook and is located halfway up the so called tail of the sting-ray. In Steve Irwin's case, he got stung in the heart. They sting someone when they feel threatened. Once they sting someone, they lose the barb and it takes some time to grow a new one.
2006-11-02 17:44:14 · answer #4 · answered by june clever 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Some of my classmates say he would have lived had he not pulled out the barb
poor fella tho
He got stabbed by the stingray
2006-11-02 19:13:43 · answer #5 · answered by Kin E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It stabs with a poisonous barb on the end tail.
2006-11-02 17:39:40 · answer #6 · answered by tucksie 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
spear from his tail pierced his heart when feel threatened a stingray will release one to warn of predators
2006-11-02 17:43:42 · answer #7 · answered by LISA T 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
its like a bumble bee, just a sting on the end of the tail, it gotta hurt!!
2006-11-02 17:46:26 · answer #8 · answered by HotDog 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know but they choose great victims.
2006-11-02 17:42:03 · answer #9 · answered by iusedtolooklikemyavatar 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
http://www.elasmodiver.com/Stingray_Barb_Pictures.htm that link should help it has good info on it... good luck!
2006-11-02 17:41:26 · answer #10 · answered by CrystalRose 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋