[ad_1]
A 42-year-old man died of a heart attack after apparently being stung by a ray while swimming off the coast of Tasmania, police said.
Attempts at resuscitation of the man, who had suffered a cardiac arrest Saturday afternoon in the waters of Lauderdale Beach, east of Hobart, were unsuccessful, police said.
"It was removed from the water by friends before the arrival of the emergency services," said the Tasmanian police in a statement.
"It was reported that he was not accompanied in the water by the time he had a puncture wound at the bottom of his abdomen."
The man was swimming near the shore when the attack occurred. The police statement did not name the man.
The beach was open on Sundays. On Saturday, the CBA announced to Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman that the council had not yet decided when he would close the beach after the incident.
"We need to determine whether it is a one-time tragic accident or a broader threat to the community," said Chipman.
Rays are not considered aggressive and deadly attacks on humans are extremely rare. Its venom causes pain and can affect heart rate and breathing.
In 2006, Steve Irwin, an Australian environmentalist and "crocodile hunter", died as a result of a jagged slate that pierced his heart during the filming of the Great Barrier Reef.
Reuters and the Australian Associated Press contributed to this report
