Fisherman dies after attack by marlin
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A fisherman was stabbed to death by a Pacific marlin he had reeled in off Acapulco.
A fisherman was stabbed to death by a Pacific marlin he had reeled in off Acapulco.
Jose Rojas Mayarita, 39, had single handedly hooked the three-metre fish from his boat then struggled with it for hours. Just as he was reeling it in, it apparently outran the line and leapt straight into the boat, landing right on top of him.
The impact sent the blue marlin's sword straight through Mr Rojas's abdomen.
For four days, the wounded man drifted in the Pacific currents until a United States helicopter on drug patrol spotted him near international waters.
Captain Antonio Pisa Vela, the harbourmaster at Acapulco, said: "This case is one in a million. On Sunday, some 500 nautical miles off the coast, a chopper swooped down over a little launch and rescued a drifter. This fisherman's pulse was weak but he was conscious enough to say what happened."
Dr Martinez Bello, assistant director of Acapulco's General Hospital, said: "The marlin's sword was no longer inside the body when the patient was brought into casualty. He was skewered right through his intestines and the poor man was in very bad shape from an infection. He never regained consciousness. Intestinal fluid leaked into his kidneys and there was renal failure."
Yesterday morning the fisherman died. No one knows what happened to the marlin.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments