Fish launches into boat off Darwin, killing 56-year-old man - 40lb mackerel attacks fisherman, because Australia

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A 56-year-old man has died in Darwin after being struck in his chest by a fish while on a fishing boat.

Key points:
  • Police say the fish hit the man while he was inside the fishing boat
  • The man was rushed to Cullen Bay jetty where he passed away
  • Police say the man was fishing with family and friends
Northern Territory Police say the man had been fishing with family and friends on Darwin Harbour on Friday when he was "struck in his chest by a large fish which launched itself into the boat".

A local fisherman said he understood the fish was an 18-kilogram mackerel.

"From reports, it was like an 18-kilo mackerel, so it would have been a big fish that speared right into this guy and caused major blunt [force] trauma," James Crane said. "It sounded pretty horrible to have happened, but it does happen."

Police say the group immediately made their way to Cullen Bay "where they were met by police and paramedics who administered CPR".
Police say the man died at Cullen Bay.

"This appears to be a freak incident which is hugely distressing for the people in the boat and other family and friends of the man," Northern Territory Police said.

"Police ask that their privacy be respected and as such will not be providing further comment."

Mr Crane, who said he came across a white sheet at the Cullen Bay jetty protecting the man's body, said the incident was "horrible".

"It was hard. Everyone needs to be together right now and to lose someone over a freak accident like that, it was crazy," he said.
"It's horrible that would happen on a fishing boat.

"It's supposed to be a fun day out there with your mates."

Mr Crane said he believed the man was on a personal boat and not a fishing charter.

In 2018, a woman's neck was sliced open when a mackerel launched itself from the water 45 kilometres from Darwin.

The 10-kilogram, metre-long mackerel reportedly jumped more than a metre and a half in the air before leaving the woman lying on a fishing boat with blood streaming from her neck.

The woman survived but was left with a deep wound to her neck.
 
"I know the human being and fish can co-exist peacefully."

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It was a beautiful dream, George...
 
Alternative Title - "Fisherman Gets His!"
 
I've heard about birdstrike; I had no idea fishstrike was a thing.

It's not as uncommon as you might think. I've fished the Sea of Cortez for many years. Lots of manta rays at certain times of the year and the damned things like to go airborne and do backflips and such. Running at speed back into port, had one go airborne right in front of me and smashed the glass in the cockpit as we hit it. Luckily, no one was injured. Other than the ray.

A friend running back to port had a whale surface right in front of him and he hit it. Launched the boat into the air and ripped the outdrive completely off the boat. Several of them bruised and banged up, but nothing too serious. They put out an SOS and got towed back into port.

Freaky shit happens out there, but is definitely the exception, not the norm. If you want some fun laughs, Google Asian Carp and watch some of the videos of people getting fish slapped running rivers in the Midwest. Damn things go airborne all the time.

RIP Fisherman Aussie. At least he died doing something he loved, fishing.
 
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