An angler who narrowly escaped death after he was speared by a giant blue marlin and knocked out of his boat was still recovering in hospital last night ? but his father said he expected him to return to sea as soon as he could.

Ian Card was left with a fist-sized chest wound and underwent emergency surgery after the hooked creature struck him during an international sports fishing tournament on Saturday morning.

His mother Elizabeth told yesterday that he was still very uncomfortable and was not accepting many visitors at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

His father Alan, who was captaining the boat while Ian acted as mate, said he could see no reason why the 32-year-old would stop fishing following the freak accident during the Sea Horse Anglers? Club Bill Fish Tournament.

?I would be most amazed if it had that effect,? said Mr. Card, 58, of Somerset.

?It?s like falling off a horse; you get right back on. I don?t know how long it will take him to be well enough. He?s in pain and he?s a little bit groggy but other than that he seems to be okay.?

The marlin ? estimated to weigh 800 pounds and to measure 14 feet in length ? was cut loose from angler Leslie Spanswick?s line after Ian was pulled to safety from the sea.

?We have to go out there and retrieve the lure we lost,? joked Mr. Card, who operates his 40-foot charter fishing vessel with his son.

Edwin Hawn, from Texas, the winner of the Sea Horse tournament ? who bagged a 532-lb blue marlin and won the top prize of $78,000 on Sunday ? has offered to donate some of his prize money to Ian to help him while he cannot work aboard.

Meanwhile, another competitor picked up a special prize from contest organisers for rushing to help the Cards.

Tournament producer Dan Jacobs said American physician Peter Watson, who was fishing on his boat, the , immediately offered his services when he heard the distress call on the radio.

?He stopped fishing and ran in as fast as his boat would go to provide any assistance,? said Mr. Jacobs. ?That?s an incredible act of sportsmanship and care for his fellow man.?

Mr. Jacobs presented Dr. Watson, from North Carolina, with a marine chronometer watch and limited edition art print at the tournament prize giving at Square One, Hamilton, on Sunday evening.

The tournament attracted 30 boats, many from the US. It forms part of the Bermuda Triple Crown Bill Fish Championship 2006.