Fisherman dies after swordfish impales him

Warning: This story contains a graphic image.

An accomplished fisherman in Hawaii was killed by a swordfish he was trying to catch.

Randy Llanes, 47, was using a spear gun to try to catch a swordfish he found swimming in the shallow waters of Honokohau Harbor, according to KHON.

Witnesses say they saw the fish thrashing about. Llanes suffered a puncture wound to the chest and later died at a local hospital.

The swordfish weighed about 40 pounds and measured approximately 3 feet long, with its bill about the same length, according to KHON.

Police believe that after the fish was hit with the spear gun, it got wrapped around a mooring anchor and then attacked Llanes.

Friends say Llanes was a lifelong fisherman who had a wife and 5-year-old son.

Wildlife experts say swordfish generally don’t swim in shallow waters and incidents involving swordfish attacking humans are very rare.