Bulk carrier crew off Gladstone suffers ciguatera fish poisoning

Several crew members of an international bulk carrier have been taken to a Queensland hospital after eating contaminated reef fish.

Paramedics, a doctor and a nurse were continuing to treat the crew of an international bulk carrier off the coast of Gladstone after they came down with suspected food poisoning from eating a barracuda.

The crew made a call for help at 4.30am today, with a team of paramedics and health staff travelling out to sea with the help of water police to respond to the suspected mass food poisoning event.

It is understood the group is suspected of suffering from ciguatera fish poisoning, which can be acquired from eating reef fish contaminated by toxins.

Queensland Ambulance Service central region district director Darren Pirie said seven people were taken to Gladstone Hospital, with the health team remaining on board throughout the day to treat another 12 crew members.

Seventeen crew members on a bulk carrier off the Queensland coast have become ill after eating a barracuda.

“We’ve been called to respond to a vessel about five nautical miles off the coast,” he said.

“There were 20 people on the vessel and 19 of those people came down with associated symptoms of nausea and vomiting, aches and pains … potentially from digesting some fish out on the reef there.

“Queensland Ambulance Service provided a response and care to these patients along with a medical team out of Queensland Health, a doctor and nurse, to … assess these patients on the vessel and provide care as appropriate.

“At the moment … we’ve transported seven of those 19 patients and there’s been some further care provided on the vessel which allows those patients to stay safe on the vessel.”

Mr Pirie said the sick crew members had been given fluids and medication on board the vessel and were being monitored by paramedics and medical professionals.

“The whole scenario has gone really well,” he said.