This is a big fish tale and, unfortunately for a Chiefland woman, it's no
lie. Brianne H. Megargel, 31, was knocked out of her boat Saturday on the Suwannee River by a jumping sturgeon. On Tuesday, she was laid up in Shands
at the University of Florida with two broken arms, a broken collarbone, several
broken ribs, a lacerated liver, facial trauma and four missing teeth.
read more.... http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120605/ARTICLES/120609806?p=2&tc=pg
lie. Brianne H. Megargel, 31, was knocked out of her boat Saturday on the Suwannee River by a jumping sturgeon. On Tuesday, she was laid up in Shands
at the University of Florida with two broken arms, a broken collarbone, several
broken ribs, a lacerated liver, facial trauma and four missing teeth.
read more.... http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120605/ARTICLES/120609806?p=2&tc=pg
“She is a tough cookie, that's for
sure,” said Megargel's father, Michael Hart. “She's always been an active
person. Now she's in bed with two broken arms and realizing she isn't going to
be able to do anything for herself.”
Megargel was in a 17-foot boat in the
middle of the Suwannee River near Manatee Springs State Park with her husband,
Steve, and his 10-year-old son, Greyson. They usually are on a boat somewhere on
weekends — from cruising the Suwannee to lobstering in the Keys.
Her parents said the Megargels had
seen sturgeon jumping — a common if not understood practice this time they year
when the thickly scaled fish spawn. Brianne Megargel was sitting next to her
husband. In an instant, she was face down in the water unconscious.
The boat was going about 25 mph. The
fish weighed about 70 pounds. Given the dynamics, the impact to Brianne Megargel
was severe.
“It was very serious. She is a
miracle,” said her mom, Sandra Vance. “She has to get surgery on both arms.”
Steve Megargel immediately dove in to
rescue his wife — neither were wearing life jackets. The Suwannee is about 750
feet wide at that point with a swift current.
sure,” said Megargel's father, Michael Hart. “She's always been an active
person. Now she's in bed with two broken arms and realizing she isn't going to
be able to do anything for herself.”
Megargel was in a 17-foot boat in the
middle of the Suwannee River near Manatee Springs State Park with her husband,
Steve, and his 10-year-old son, Greyson. They usually are on a boat somewhere on
weekends — from cruising the Suwannee to lobstering in the Keys.
Her parents said the Megargels had
seen sturgeon jumping — a common if not understood practice this time they year
when the thickly scaled fish spawn. Brianne Megargel was sitting next to her
husband. In an instant, she was face down in the water unconscious.
The boat was going about 25 mph. The
fish weighed about 70 pounds. Given the dynamics, the impact to Brianne Megargel
was severe.
“It was very serious. She is a
miracle,” said her mom, Sandra Vance. “She has to get surgery on both arms.”
Steve Megargel immediately dove in to
rescue his wife — neither were wearing life jackets. The Suwannee is about 750
feet wide at that point with a swift current.
