Swimmer injured by diving pelican
Posted on Mon, May. 12, 2008
An Ohio woman is recovering after a pelican slammed into her face while she was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.
Debbie Shoemaker of Toledo, Ohio, was swimming about 1:45 p.m. Thursday near Treasure Island, a beach community west of St. Petersburg, when she felt something hit her face.
Paramedics from the St. Petersburg Beach Fire Department responded to the call and took her to a local hospital, where more than 20 stitches were needed to close a large gash in her cheek. The agency's chief says he never heard of a pelican diving into the water and colliding with anyone.
The 50-year-old house cleaner, who vacations in Florida about twice a year, returned home Friday.
An expert surmises the bird was likely diving for fish and hit Shoemaker by accident. The pelican died.
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