Lawsuit over Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Sting

New Zealander Danyon Roderique-Trask, 23, was stung by a crown-of-thorns starfish at Hastings Reef in Australia's GBR, back in 2016. Despite enduring eight surgeries, he still cannot use his right hand and is claiming in a civil action that Tusa Dive, his employer, allowed divers to collect the toxic creatures to prevent them damaging the coral. He is suing his former employer for $1.6 million.

The plaintiff says he speared the animal, but while swimming to the surface, it slipped down the rod of the spear and pierced his fingers in 14 different places. His claim, according to the Cairns Post, says he did not know that crown-of-thorns had venomous spines and were dangerous to handle.

Hmmmm........