Teacher Gets Stitches After Piranha Bite

EAST WENATCHEE, Douglas County

A sharp-toothed classroom piranha took a bite out of science teacher Ron Mason's finger, what you might call an occupational hazard with a twist.

"The first thing I wanted to do was fill out that industrial claim," Mason said, thinking of his state insurance job claim. "I knew this would go down in history as one of the most unique claims they had."

Mason got a half-inch gash requiring three stitches last week. It happened while he was moving Spike in a net from one tank to another at Eastmont High School.

"Normally when you transfer fish, you put your hand over the net so they won't jump out," he said. "I knew that little guy had teeth, so I had my hand up high.

"It felt as if something quickly grabbed my finger with a pair of pliers and let go."

Spike, about 4 1/2 inches long, has lived in a tank at the school for years. Mason said Spike isn't vicious and has caused no problems in the past.