Child Stabbed In Chest By Catfish In New Port Richey, Hospitalized

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A child is recovering in the hospital after being stabbed in the chest by a catfish, according to Pasco County Fire Rescue.

While on the way to the hospital Monday, the child had difficulty breathing. The child's mother pulled over on the side of US-19 and called for help, the agency posted to Facebook.

Firefighters responded to the area and saw a catfish barb lodged about 1.5 inches in the child’s chest.

The child was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa for treatment, first responders said.

Known for their whiskers protruding from the area around the mouth, catfish are a unique type of fish. They also have external spines near their fins.

While not typically aggressive, they can be dangerous to touch. According to Outdoor Skilled, the sharp spines located on their dorsal and pectoral fins can accidentally puncture a person's skin. This can cause severe pain since they contain venom.