A Brush with a Deadly Stingray

Kristie Cataffo-O’Brien was visiting Bahia Beach with her husband Thomas over this past summer of 2023. A beautiful area with clear waters and of course palm trees, a staple of The Sunshine State. Thomas and Kristie’s trip to Bahia was about as far from the daring adventures of Steve Irwin as you could get, both geographically and in the events planned. The couple took a 40 minute drive from their home in Tampa to try a new spot for lunch followed by some relaxation in the sun, and cooling off in the water. That was about it. They weren’t in Bahia to surf, dive, or partake in any type of thrill-seeking activity. On August 25th, while sitting in only knee-deep water, Kristie felt a painful sting dig into her right shoulder blade. A jellyfish maybe? She wasn’t quite sure.