It’s the yarn to end all fishermen’s tales – and Quentin Peck knows how lucky he is to be alive to tell it.
While on a spearfishing expedition with his brother Nathan and good mate Andrew, Quentin was speared through the arm by a marlin leaping over their six metre inflatable boat, about 20km off Wooli, near Coffs Harbour.
It came as a huge surprise to the trio, who had no idea the fish was even in the vicinity as their boat cruised at 40kmh to the next dive spot.
The marlin, estimated to be about 100kg, certainly left its mark on the brothers, although Quentin copped the worst of it.
He needed to be flown to Coffs Harbour Hospital and then on to Royal North Shore for specialist surgery to reattach the tendons ripped from his forearm and broken ribs.
Nathan escaped with some stitches to his shoulder where the marlin’s bill passed though.
While in Ward 5 East, Quentin’s newfound stardom was realised as he and Nathan were interviewed by Channel 10’s The Project, but not before he spoke to NSLHD News to thank all the staff involved in his care.
"Everyone involved, from the first two SES guys that met us on the scene to the Westpac Helicopter, ambulance staff, to the nurses here on the ward – they’ve been amazing," the Narrabeen local said.
