Swordfish kills fisher with bill after being shot with speargun

According to Hawaii News Now, the fish that stabbed Randy Llanes through the torso was a broadbill swordfish. Photo / Getty Images

A fishing boat captain has died after being impaled by a 1.82m-long swordfish in a Hawaiian harbour.

Randy Llanes, 47, was killed by the fish, which had a sharp, 1m-long bill, after he jumped off a pier in Honokohau Harbor on Big Island in an attempt to catch it.

Moments before diving in, Llanes had shot the fish with a speargun, said witnesses, but the wounded animal punctured his upper right torso, leaving him floating in the water.

According to Hawaii News Now, the fish was a broadbill swordfish. The site reported that onlookers pulled Llanes from the harbour and gave him CPR - but to no avail.

A spokesman for the Hawaii county fire department said: "All we know is next thing they know, the man is seen floating.

"They are very aggressive animals. If you mess with them they defend themselves pretty good."

The victim was taken to Kona Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. Police are investigating the death. The fish also died.

Llanes ran the Sundowner Sportfishing Charters company, which offered private hire fishing tours for as many as six anglers.

According his social media profiles, Llanes was an avid fisherman himself, and was often pictured posing with his enormous catches.

In a biography on his company website, Llanes said he had been a licensed captain since 1997, and had 25 years' fishing experience.

He described Hawaii as "one of those rare places where sea monsters still exist".

- Daily Mail