Free Diver Injured by Fisherman’s Hook Embedded in Her Neck in Eilat

Julia, a 33-year-old free diver from Eilat, experienced a frightening accident when a fishing hook pierced her neck during a dive at a northern beach about a week ago. She felt a sudden sharp impact and pulling sensation on her neck but managed to exit the water unaided and immediately went to Yoseftal Hospital. Upon arrival, medical staff discovered that a triangular fishing hook, thrown by a nearby fisherman who believed he had caught a large fish, had lodged in her neck.

Julia’s partner quickly cut the fishing line, and the couple was shocked to find no bleeding from the wound. At the hospital, Dr. Michael Nash, a senior ENT and head and neck surgeon, examined her and confirmed the hook had not penetrated any vital blood vessels or nerves, as it was lodged above a muscle protecting these structures. A specialized CT scan showed the hook’s tip was about five millimeters away from critical blood vessels, indicating that any uncontrolled removal could have caused severe bleeding or life-threatening injury.

The medical team decided to operate, carefully enlarging the wound to expose the tissues, locate the hook’s end, and safely remove it before suturing the site. Dr. Nash emphasized that if the hook had penetrated just five millimeters deeper, it could have damaged major vessels and become a life-threatening injury. He warned against attempting to remove such foreign objects independently, as even slight movements could cause serious harm. Immediate hospital treatment and controlled surgical extraction are essential in such cases.

Julia’s case highlights the dangers of fishing equipment in aquatic environments and the importance of prompt professional medical care when foreign objects penetrate the body. The fisherman was shocked and apologized, unaware of the injury he had caused. Julia is now recovering after the successful surgery at Yoseftal Hospital in Eilat.