Swimmer’s foot is horrifically pierced after she was hooked by a fishermen who started to REEL her in
- A long-line-fisherman in New Zealand has hooked a swimmer and reeled her in
- Emmeline Taylor was swimming at Ohope Beach and felt a sting on her foot
- She was treated in hospital and is recovering but wants regulations brought in
A woman was left in horrific pain when a long-line-fisherman hooked in to her foot and started to reel her in, unaware he had a human on the other end.
Emmeline Taylor said she was swimming with a friend at Ohope Beach in New Zealand when she felt like she had been bitten by a crab.
‘I lifted my foot up and saw, to my horror, this big hook was caught deep in my foot near where my tendon goes to my ankle,’ she told the NZ Herald.
The longline fisherman 500m away began reeling in the line with an electric winch while the tide pulled her out to sea, doubling the pain.
Her quick thinking friend broke the line line off and the horrified fisherman soon arrived to help and found Ms Taylor in horrible pain from her injury.
A woman has been left in horrific pain after a long-line-fisherman hooked in to her foot and started to reel her in, unaware he had a person
‘They were absolutely horrified. No long-liner wants to mutilate or catch a swimmer,’ Ms Taylor said.
Ms Taylor was unable to walk and was carried out of the water by her friend who took her to hospital.
After a short stay in hospital, Ms Taylor is still recovering from her injuries and worries about the potential dangers from long line fishing.
‘It could have easily been an eye; it could’ve easily popped out an eye. Or it could’ve been a little kid, it could’ve hooked their leg or their chest.’
She said she would like to see regulations put in place at Whakatane District Council about where people could longline and swim safely.
Nearby Tauranga City Council enacted bylaws last year that bans longline fishing between 10am and 5pm from December 15 to February 15 every year.
It is also banned within 300 metres of any flagged lifeguard area.
Whakatane District Council manager of public affairs Ross Boreham said that district councils have responsibility to the low water mark but beyond that is regional council jurisdiction.
‘Our Places and Open Spaces team has given some thought to this and do not favour a bylaw, which would be difficult to enforce, but suggest that there is a duty of care for all beach users to take reasonable care that their activities do not adversely affect other users,’ he said.
NZ Sport Fishing has guidelines in place for longline fishing including mainatinaing a 500m clearnace from flagged areas, however, these guidelines are not law.
Ms Taylor was unable to walk and was carried out of the water by her friend who took her to hospital