TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
25 Stitches Required After Pelican Swoops Down On Swimmer
Shoemaker family photo
Debbie Shoemaker, 50, of Toledo, was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico off Treasure Island Thursday when a swooping pelican careened into her face and pierced her cheek with its beak.
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Published: May 9, 2008
Updated: 05/09/2008 10:12 am
TREASURE ISLAND - As Debbie Shoemaker swam in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday afternoon, she said her movements may have mimicked a fish.
That could explain why, when she surfaced for air, a swooping pelican slammed into the left side of her face, Shoemaker said.
The pelican's beak punctured her cheek. Four people helped Shoemaker to shore. The good Samaritans told Shoemaker later that the pelican died after it collided with her.
Paramedics took Shoemaker to the Palms of Pasadena Hospital in St. Petersburg, where she received 25 stitches.
Officials with the St. Pete Beach Fire Department, the agency that responded to the emergency call, could not be reached Thursday for comment.
Nurses told Shoemaker that they had never heard of anyone being hit by a flying pelican until she was admitted to the emergency room.
"It's a very freak accident," Shoemaker, 50, said Thursday after she was released from the hospital.
The Toledo, Ohio, native said she often vacations in Florida. She planned to stay through the weekend, but her injury has forced an early departure.
"I had to go back to the hotel and pack," Shoemaker said. "I need to go home."
Shoemaker booked an early this morning flight back to Ohio.
Tampa resident Barbara Hatcher said she will try to convince the friend she's known since second grade to return for another visit.
"It's a shame this happened to her," Hatcher said.
Shoemaker said prior to her run-in with the pelican, she booked a week's stay in a Treasure Island hotel for May 2009. On Thursday, she said she wasn't sure whether next year's vacation will be cancelled.
"I'm really scared now," Shoemaker said. "The next time I come, maybe I don't act like a fish in the water."
Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( DREAMER1011 ) on May 9, 2008 at 6:35 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
i feel so bad for her but if it happened to me i think I would want to go home too!!!
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Posted by ( zteam55 ) on May 9, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I guess she looked good from the air...
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Posted by ( bigheart54 ) on May 9, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
And I have often wondered whether a pelican on the water would draw a shark? Maybe they don't like foul.
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Posted by ( jj63 ) on May 9, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
A freak accident. I feel sorry for her. I hope she feels better.
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Posted by ( Claylisa ) on May 9, 2008 at 8:28 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( lauriem ) on May 9, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Okay.......so I know it's horrible, but this strikes me as funny........Don't they say that if a bird craps on you, it's good luck? What happens if they take a nose dive into your face? She should maybe play the lotto before she gets out of dodge......
P.S. I DO hope you feel better.......:)
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Posted by ( Old_FL_Crab ) on May 9, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
@Claylisa, or if not full military funeral, perhaps PARTIAL cremation.
350 degree oven 'till golden brown. Baste occasionally. Stuffing optional, 'taters an gravy highly recommended.
Yes, I'm a CRAB get it???
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Posted by ( ratman ) on May 9, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Pelicans attacking swimmers... Stingrays smashing into boaters... People shooting people sleeping in cars... The animals are on a rampage!
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Posted by ( PJC ) on May 9, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Poor Pelican....she was in his dinner bowl after all.....
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Posted by ( boilercolts ) on May 9, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
MARC my words this Pellican was driving a PT Cruiser convertable!
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Posted by ( signit4bes ) on May 9, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Of course, had the pelican lived, it would be deemed a nuisance and would have to be destroyed anyway....like all gators should be....Go Buckeyes!
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Posted by ( boilercolts ) on May 9, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
where was snowflake when you need him???
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Posted by ( boilercolts ) on May 9, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
signit4bes..
That is hilarious...way to take pride in winning 1 championship. The NIT is a huge source of pride in Ohio right now. Florida fans are most likely blinded the small little golden joke of a trophy the NIT awards, WAIT maybe that it's the 2 Waterford Crystal trophys they won against Buckeyes that is casting a winning ray of light over them instead.
Enjoy your soft conference like the Pellican enjoyed this ladies face!
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Posted by ( DLSmith ) on May 9, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Poor Pellican, Poor Lady !!! But come on it was a accident and yes I agree PJC it was his food bowl and his home.
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Posted by ( ceibert ) on May 9, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Maybe pelicans and snowbirds don't get along to well.
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Posted by ( signit4bes ) on May 9, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
2 Waterford Crystal Trophys...one of which shattered into a gazillion pieces. Whoops!
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Posted by ( Quagmire ) on May 9, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'll bet the pelican smelled the giant red snapper and attacked.
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Posted by ( LARGO_TOM ) on May 9, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What a strange bird is the pelican
It's bill can hold more than it's belly can
Ogden Nash
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 9, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ok, in the pelican's defense - maybe Debbie has kind of a "fish face"......
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Posted by ( Nilam02 ) on May 9, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I was laughing until I read that the pelican died....poor bird :(
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Posted by ( ez4u2say ) on May 9, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
when she goes back north. I hope she takes a few friends with her. maybe if we could train enough pelicans...
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Posted by ( Claylisa ) on May 9, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
boilercolts...good one.
signit4bes, we'll replace the trophy and still be a better team than the Suckeyes.
Quagmire...TBO is obviously asleep at the wheel, I don't how your post didn't get removed.
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Posted by ( robertj1954 ) on May 9, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I see a TV show appearance for this lady. "When Animals Attack". Even better "When Animals do Dumb Things"
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Posted by ( picogator ) on May 9, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
signit...."gazillion {?} pieces"---where you there when it was knocked over, dude. Well, the old grey (and red) mare, she ain't what she used to be
GO GATORS.
Did anyone see Tippi Hedrin rowing a boat and Alfred Hitchock giving directions?
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Posted by ( jazzly ) on May 9, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Posted by ( bigheart54 ) on May 9, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
And I have often wondered whether a pelican on the water would draw a shark? Maybe they don't like foul.
To bigheart53, Sharks do eat pelicans all the time. They are also in the sharks food bowl.
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Posted by ( boilercolts ) on May 9, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
A BUCKEYE IS A NUT....a little fuzzy NUT
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Posted by ( twinboys ) on May 9, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
We feel so bad for our grandma(our mom is typing we are only 10 weeks old). No our grandma does not look like a fish. She will root for the buckeyes when they play.
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Posted by ( Doofy ) on May 9, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Fuzzy nuts? Isn't Tallahassee trying to outlaw fuzzy nuts?
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Posted by ( Quagmire ) on May 9, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hi, boilercolts, signit4bes and others...this is Loren Omoto, TBO.com Content Director. We'd like to keep the discussion on-topic in the stories, but we'd also like to hear your views on the Buckeyes and Gators. You can email newhome@tbo.com, and it will be seen by all the management group here. Thanks. Now, back to the discussion...
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 9, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hi Loren! My, wherever did you get that 5 o'clock shadow from??????
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Posted by ( Bill_H ) on May 9, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
With respect to DarthRandall,
My prayers go out to the family and friends of the dead pelican. May god be with him.
Not!
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Posted by ( Old_FL_Crab ) on May 9, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Folks my post above at 9:31 was in response to Claylisas 8:28 AM post, which recommended a military funeral for the kamakize pelican. We REALLY need a list of what they're censoring here. But I fear it changes from day tomday, or shift to shift.
WTF? I'm defending Claylisa??? Help me Darth, call my therapist(s) ;-)
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Posted by ( elizabeth1977 ) on May 9, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
twinboys, hope your grandma feels better soon and heals quickly. Hopefully she won't be afraid to come back and visit you two! Give her hugs and tell her she is in my thoughts and prayers.
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Posted by ( jubu ) on May 10, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Where is the outrage from P E T A after this poor bird lost it's life just looking for a good meal? Come on P E T A,get it gear for the good of all!
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