A dad has been speared in the face with a poisonous sting-ray barb while surfing off the coast of Australia.
The deadly spike, similar to the one which killed Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin in 2006, sliced open James Taylor's face.
He had been surfing at Mullaloo Beach in Perth yesterday when he felt a searing pain on his face when de dived under a thick patch of seaweed.
Speaking to 9News in Australia he said: "I just felt a massive slash on my cheek and once I came up, I just saw the blood.
"It felt like something had slashed me, I didn't even think about stingrays."
A Good Samaritan parked at the beach rushed to his aid as he made his way out of the water.
He was quickly wrapped in a bandage before being taken to Joondalup Hospital.
Mr Taylor added: "I looked down at myself and I had a black wetsuit on, but it was just red (with blood). I had a quick shower and there was just red everywhere."
The 41-year-old was told by doctors he was lucky his injury was not more serious.
He is due to have plastic surgery and is warning fellow beach goers to take care in the surf.
