Swimmer’s sinking feeling after eel bite

A Blenheim man taking a dip at a popular beauty spot is warning others to be careful after he was attacked by an eel.

Alex Roberton was left with a bleeding leg and a big bite mark after a swim in Wakamarina River, a tributary of the Pelorus River.

An eel, which Alex believes measured around three-foot, bit him on the top of his leg, leaving distinctive puncture marks.

Department of Conservation specialists say the incident is “very rare.”

DOC Technical Advisor Freshwater Sjaan Bowie says they have staff who regularly work in waterways who have never been bitten.

“It is very rare, and generally results in a small graze.

“Several DOC staff who have worked regularly in waterways with eels for over 20 years have never been bitten or if they have, it is only once or twice, minor, and often only when eels feel threatened, such as being removed from nets.”

It left the Top South Media advertising specialist worried about possible infection.

“It felt like someone had grabbed my leg at first and then it got worse, more like someone had got me with pliers.

“My leg was bleeding, and driving back to Blenheim, it started to get a bit warm but I got some antiseptic on it and it’s been okay since.

“I’m keeping a close eye on it.”

The keen competitive cyclist, who was returning home from Heli biking near Nelson last Sunday stopped off at the local beauty spot near Butchers Flat Camping Area.

But he says the refreshing swim turned sour after the surprise encounter.

There are two types of eels in New Zealand: Longfin and Shortfin. Longfin eels, which is what Alex thinks he saw, live mainly in rivers and inland lakes.

New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database, both longfin and shortfin eels have been recorded in the Wakamarina River catchment.

Large longfins have been estimated to be at least 60 years old and can weigh between 10 and 40kg.

Longfin eels are not generally dangerous to humans, but they can bite if provoked, says Sjaan.

“There could be several reasons including the eel feeling threatened, territorial defence, habituation – as maybe someone regularly feeds the eels in this area, or curiosity.

“Eels usually avoid people and are mostly active at night. This could have been a particularly territorial fish.”

Alex says he had only been in the water for about a minute when the eel struck.

“I’d been under the water a couple of times and was standing still, ready to get out, when it happened.

“I reached round expecting it to my one of mates having a joke, so it was a shock to feel this big slimy thing.

“That’s when it hit me what it was, I grabbed it and threw it across the water away from me.

“I was quite tempted to bite it back,” Alex jokes.

His friends told him they had never heard of an unprovoked attack before but were nonetheless quick to get out of the water.

But the close encounter hasn’t put Alex off of swimming in local rivers.

“It does encourage me to make sure someone else goes in first though or wear longer shorts.”