Orlando (eCanadaNow) - A 50-year old woman from Toledo, Ohio is recovering after a pelican dove down toward her and slammed into her face while she was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.

Debbie Shoemaker of Toledo, Ohio was swimming on Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico at a beach near St. Petersburg, Florida.  She was not trying to attract any attention or anything of that nature.

She was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico when a pelican took a nose dive, slamming directly into her cheek with an intense impact.

The pelican hit her so hard that it split her cheek open, requiring 25 stitches.

As of Friday she was back home recovery in Ohio, the pelican died on impact.

It is believed that this is the first time this type of incident has been reported.