LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla. -- An 82-year-old man who was critically injured when a stingray jumped onto his boat and stabbed him in the chest is out of the hospital.

James Bertakis was boating with his grown granddaughter and her friend in October when the rare attack occurred.

"The ray jumped into the boat and across my dad's chest and he knocked it out of the way," Bertakis' son, Chris, said.

The ray reacted by slamming its barbed tail into Bertakis' chest. His son said his father then fell into the water.

"He knew if he stayed in the water he might die, so he found a way to get back, bleeding and screaming in pain," Chris Bertakis said.

The women steered the boat to shore and dialed 911. Fire-rescue workers said the spotted eagle ray died on the boat.

A statement released by North Broward Medical Center on behalf of his family Tuesday said Bertakis was discharged from the hospital and is undergoing "his recovery and physical rehabilitation at a new location."

Bertakis underwent surgery and doctors were able to remove the barb, which was lodged in his heart, Dr. Eugene Costantini said. He also had a partially collapsed lung.

Every beat of Bertakis's heart pulled the barb deeper into his chest and almost completely through his heart, doctors said.

Doctors were able to pull the barb through his heart and close the wound.

"We pulled it through just like a fish hook," Costantini said.