Surgery for a Thurmont boy who was speared by a stingray stinger while fishing on a North Carolina pier was postponed after his health declined, according to news reports.

Quentin Tokar had been fishing with family and friends on August 16 when they caught a stingray, and a nearby fisherman asked to keep it.

The man removed the barb, which flew through the air and struck the boy in the midsection and hit his liver. It worked its way inside with every breath.

Quentin was scheduled to have surgery on Thursday, but his family physician told WJZ-TV that it was postponed. The procedure was rescheduled to Friday, the station reported.