Stingray stabs man in abdomen on Waikanae Beach in Kāpiti, narrowly misses vital organs

A man nearly suffered a fatal blow when a stingray punctured his abdomen on a Kāpiti Coast beach.

Whakatāne man Jeremy Bain had been at Waikanae Beach carrying out surf lifesaving training on December 30 when the accident happened.

He jumped into knee-deep water and, before he knew it, he felt something stab him.

“The stingray did nothing wrong and I did nothing wrong. It was just a freak accident,” he told the Herald.

“I jumped in murky water, landed on it, it got a fright, and in pure self-defence in its natural habitat, it flicked up its barb.”

About 45 minutes after the accident, Bain began to suffer a burning sensation in the wound, which lasted for 12 to 18 hours.

“It burnt like hell,” he said.

“Once the burning went away, I felt no pain which I assume must have been the venom from the sting.”

Miraculously, no part of the stingray’s barb was left in his body and the stabbing missed his vital organs.

Rockhard Civil and Drainage's Jeremy Bain was taken to hospital after a stingray stabbed him in the stomach. Photo / Rockhard Civil and Drainage

“If I could get stabbed in the stomach, that would be the ideal spot because it’s one of the only locations around the stomach area which is quite thick because it’s got a lot of muscle and fat tissue.”

Bain is incredibly grateful for the work Wellington Free Ambulance did after the accident.

“They were amazing, even the people who helped on the beach from the Waikanae Bike Club. And the frontline staff at the ED department were amazing.”

Bain was up and running several days after the pain had gone away.

“Yes, this happened, but people should not be afraid of the water.”

Wellington Free Ambulance confirmed crews attended an incident at Waikanae Beach on December 30.

“One patient was assessed and transported to Wellington Hospital in a serious condition.”

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