The umpteenth spearfishing accident that could have been avoided
Close your eyes in the sunset, the water is warm and transparent, you and your buddy are in the middle of an exciting fishing trip, and suddenly a loud bang and a blow on your leg that, at first, makes you think you’ve been hit by a boat propeller. You look at your foot, and realize a Tahitiana spear has pierced it.
On August 24th my buddy accidentally discharged a shot, and I unfortunately found myself in his line of fire.
When I realized he had accidentally shot my foot, and once over the initial shock, I clenched my teeth and I swam to the boat, where I managed to board unaided. I do not remember any other moment in my life where I’d been that strong.When I realized he had accidentally shot my foot, and once over the initial shock, I clenched my teeth and I swam to the boat, where I managed to board unaided. I do not remember any other moment in my life where I’d been that strong. 
The adrenaline did the rest: I knew I had to reach a hospital as quickly as possible to avoid the risk of massive blood loss and infection. I was shot around 17.30, at 18.45 I was at the Sebenico A&E, at 22.15 on the operating table and, a few days later, on my sofa at home. I spent those days waiting with anguish for my test results from the hospital in Milan, unsure if I would ever again be able to walk and use my fins. Then, finally, the results: ‘’you were really lucky!’’. The radiographs, MRI and CAT all confirmed that the Tahitiana spear settled between the 28 foot bones, but only broke one, damaged neither any artery, nor any tendons or nerves.
I had miraculously managed to escape from this misadventure, a bit battered but still able to use my fins. Above all, I went away with a whole series of questions going through my head, and which, as a fisherman, I would like to ask other people practicing spearfishing, the artisans who make the spear guns, and the big corporations who deal with spearfishing. I have even more questions to ask myself as an instructor. Uncomfortable questions which I would never have asked myself had I not been shot. Before the accident I definitely had a more relaxed attitude.
And you? Are you prepared to challenge yourself?
Before answering…
…Close your eyes in the sunset, the water is warm and transparent, you and your buddy are in the middle of an exciting fishing trip, and suddenly a loud bang and you realize a Tahitiana spear has pierced your buddy’s foot.
We would like you to give your point of view in the comments to this thread, so as to enable us to open a dialogue with artisans and brands that make spear guns, spearfishing academies, instructors and everyone involved and propose some ideas to help preventing this type of accidents.
Talk soon,
Fede
