A Singaporean family was spending some time at East Coast Park when a freak accident occurred involving improperly discarded fishing gear.
Family outing went awry
One Fadhly Rosili took to Instagram on Aug. 11 to raise awareness of the incident.
Fadhly explained that his 10-year-old sister was walking on the beach when a fishing hook got caught on her toe.
From the video he posted, the hook, which was still attached to the long fishing line, appears to have pierced right through her big toe.
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[WARNING, GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW]
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Photo from fadhlyrosli / IG
Fadhly stated in the post's caption that it was not easy to remove the hook, and "any deeper we will need to get the professional help."
"What was supposed to be a happy family outing, turns out to be terrifying for my sister," he said.
Urged anglers to be responsible
Fadhly urged anglers fishing at East Coast Park to be responsible, and dispose of fishing hooks properly.
As the beach is a public place, adults and children alike could injure themselves if the hooks are not discarded appropriately.
He added that he did not have a problem with such hobbyists, but implored them to consider the safety of others using the space.
"People walking on the beach can get injured like this. This child is only 10 years old. Just imagine the small children, or our kids. Please throw the fish hooks away."
"You are free to do your hobby but just be responsible and think of the safety of others."
You can watch his full video here.
Discarded fishing gear could threaten wildlife too
Fishing is permitted at selected parks in Singapore. At East Coast Park, anglers are often spotted at Bedok Jetty.
In an advisory on their website, the National Parks Board (NParks) states that anglers should dispose of trash such as fishing lines and hooks into litter bins.
Not only does this ensure the safety of people visiting the parks, but it reduces marine pollution as well.
Improperly disposed fishing gear is one of the main threats marine life like fishes, turtles, dolphins and whales, among others, face.
Often, these creatures get caught in the fishing gear which drift along with the currents, and subsequently die due to starvation or strangulation.
Singapore's wildlife is not unsusceptible to such killer trash either, with our native otters having encountered such incidents before.
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Top photo from fadhlyrosli / IG