Man dies from being stung by a stingray at Hobart beach

The man was stung on the abdomen while swimming at Lauderdale, about 13 kilometres east of Hobart. Stingrays are frequently seen in the waters around Lauderdale.

Tasmania Police confirmed the man suffered a fatal heart attack. Police stated that "attempts to resuscitate the male were unsuccessful. In the immediate period prior to his death the male had been swimming unaccompanied in the waters a short distance from the shore."

"He was removed from the water by friends prior to the arrival of emergency services.

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said the council would consider closing the beach if advised.

"It's a dreadful accident, I'm actually shocked," he said.

"My prayers go out to the family and friends of the man.

"I'm not aware of any other stingray attacks on the beach there but we will be taking advice from the experts and from Tasmania Police in terms of public safety."

Stingrays are considered by most experts to be docile creatures, only attacking in self-defence. Most stingray-related injuries to humans occur to the ankles and lower legs, when someone accidentally steps on a ray buried in the sand and the frightened ray flips up its dangerous tail.

While painful, stingray venom isn’t usually deadly unless victims are stung in the chest or abdomen. Most stingrays attack when a swimmer is directly over or in front of a ray, blocking its escape route.