The fish that attacked a Russian tourist in waters off Nha Trang lat week has been identified, according to Thanh Nien.

Fish researchers a the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography said that Kalinina Oxana, 44, was attacked by a needlefish.

After being pulled from the ocean, Oxana was rushed to Khanh Hoa General Hospital where doctors found a 39mm object piecing a vertebra in her neck, leaving her left arm and right leg temporarily paralyzed.

Oxana underwent semi-elective surgery on Tuesday evening and doctors found many “saw-shaped” fish bones deep inside her backbone. After 7.5 hours of surgery, the bones were removed and the patient regained consciousness.

While the surgery was successful, doctors say she will need to undergo further procedures before she is in stable condition.

According to the paper, a similar incident occurred last December when a local fisherman's throat was pierced by the same species. 

Perhaps the attack was in retaliation for the countless number of needlefish that are killed in the name of sushi.

[Thanh Nien // Photo via Paigeh]