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Original story here: http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/8358972.html
Two Brevard County teenagers escaped serious injury Thursday when they collided with a sturgeon in the Suwannee River while riding a personal watercraft.

Alli Katirck, 14, of Mims, and Kori Snitker, 17, of Titusville, were riding with a group of family and friends in the Suwannee when a six-foot sturgeon dealt them a glancing blow, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers.

FWC Officer Dwain Mobley said the group on five personal watercraft approached his boat, asking for assistance. Mobley and Officer Matt Tyre provided basic first aid to the two girls, who said the sturgeon jumped in front of them around the Rock Bluff area.


“The girls had sustained minor cuts and abrasions from the leaping fish,” Mobley said.

“The two girls were very upset and didn’t want to get back on their personal watercraft,” Mobley said. “So we put them on our patrol boat and led the group back to the Branford boat ramp where they had put in.”

After getting the group back to the boat ramp, officers gave the adults in the group directions to the nearest hospital so the girls could be checked over.

“These two teens were very lucky,” Mobley said. “According to other witnesses who saw the collision, the fish was very large and could have hurt them severely.”

According to Mobley, the group had seen media coverage about sturgeon jumping on the Suwannee River and heard about injuries other boaters had sustained.

“I’m extremely glad to hear that these two girls were not seriously injured,” said Maj. Bruce Hamlin, regional commander for the FWC’s North Central Region in Lake City. “However, this should serve as a warning to other boaters on the Suwannee. We want people to enjoy the recreational opportunities on the river, but also, we want people to be aware that these fish do jump and can hurt you.

“Please don’t think this can’t happen to you. If you are recreating on the Suwannee River during the summer months, there’s a good chance you could encounter a sturgeon jumping out of the water,” Hamlin said.

So far this year, the FWC has documented five sturgeon strikes, with seven people injured.