SANDERSON, Fla. — A Baker County woman is recovering from injuries when she was hit by a leaping sturgeon in the Sante Fe River last Friday.
This past weekend a five year-old was killed by a sturgeon on the Suwannee River, according Florida Fish and Wildlife.
Colleen Harvey underwent surgery at UF Health in Gainesville this weekend as she was struck in the face by a a sturgeon while standing at the console of the boat she was in.
"Took a blow to the face... fractured broke from the nose up," said Tammy Brownlee, who visited her sister-in-law over the weekend. She said Harvey had to undergo ten hours of surgery. Harvey's husband has bruised ribs from the incident, the family said.
The Harvey family was wrapping up a day on the water when the sturgeon jumped from the water hitting the couple.
"They were about 100 yards from the dock when fish jumped out of the water. It was a freak accident, " said Brownlee from her home in Sanderson.
Florida Fish and Wildlife said leaping sturgeons are more common during the heart of the summer. The endangered species can top 200 pounds and eight feet in length.
FWC said the death of child was a first to happen on the Suwannee River. Jaylon Rippy died as a result of injuries from the sturgeon while the little girl's mother and brother also injured.
Jumping sturgeons result, each year, in nine people being injured with most injuries the result of people being directly hit or boaters taking action to avoid being hit by a sturgeon.
