Six jellyfish stings, multiple dingo bites in a week on K’gari

A rescue helicopter was sent to help a teenage girl on K’Gari on Tuesday for the sixth suspected Irukandji jellyfish sting in a week.

Tourists are paying a high price at K’gari this week.

A rescue helicopter was sent to help a teenage girl on K’Gari on Tuesday for the sixth suspected sting in a week.

Queensland Ambulance Service received the call for help shortly before 1pm for a girl experiencing symptoms consistent with an Irukandji jellyfish sting.

The girl was in the Awinya Creek area on western side of the island.

She was later flown to Hervey Bay Hospital in a stable condition.

It comes after QAS posted to social media on Monday warning swimmers of the presence of the potentially deadly jellyfish.

“K’Gari (Fraser Island) is looking pristine under the holiday sun, however the past few days has seen a spate of marine stings for those wading into the surf,” the post said.

“Island paramedics have responded to five suspected irukandji stings, mostly involving children and located on the western side of K’Gari. Several of these cases have resulted in evacuation by rescue helicopter.

“Holiday revellers are encouraged to be aware and stinger-smart if entering the water, including wearing long sleeve swimwear.”

An infant was flown from K’gari on Monday afternoon after she was stung by a jellyfish following a string of reported stings and one dingo bite, all within two days.

A rescue helicopter along with local QAS paramedics rushed to help the little girl, who was believed to have been stung by an Irukandji jellyfish near Awinya Creek on the western side of the island.

At the same location, only a couple of hours earlier, at around midday on Monday, a man in his 20s was also flown after a severe allergic reaction from an irukandji sting.

Both were flown to Hervey Bay Hospital in a stable condition.

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It’s the fourth jellyfish sting within two days and was followed by a dingo attack that happened earlier Monday morning, where a man was bitten at Hook Point.

The man had parked his car near the barge, and had gotten out of his vehicle, when the dingo came up to him and bit him on the back of the leg.

The man immediately got back in his vehicle and waited until the dingo left the area. He was then given first aid by barge staff.

Queensland Park and Wildlife Service rangers are investigating the incident, with the identity of the dingo involved to determine their next steps.

K’gari. Photo RACQ LifeFlight

The morning before, on Sunday, a girl was flown to Hervey Bay Hospital after a severe reaction to sting at Woralie Creek campground, that same afternoon, a boy was taken via barge to Gympie Hospital for a suspected Irukandji jellyfish sting.

On Friday, January 12, a young girl was attacked by a dingo and transported off K’gari by barge before being taken to Gympie Hospital.

Stings from irukandji, one of the world’s most lethal creatures, have been on the rise for the past few years, and have prompted fears that the deadly jellyfish invisible to the naked eye are moving further south.

Department of Environment and Science advises on marine stings in their condition report:

Marine wildlife including sharks and marine stingers are present in the waters off Fraser Island.

Swimming in the ocean off K’gari is not recommended and is undertaken at own risk.

Beaches of K’gari are unpatrolled with strong ocean currents – drownings have occurred.

Take care around all lakes and creeks and at rocky shores with unpredictable waves, depth can be unpredictable, avoid submerged vegetation.

Even a great swimmer can get into trouble – always swim with a buddy.

Marine stingers and other dangerous marine life are present, especially during the summer months, in the waters off K’gari and the Great Sandy Strait.

Marine stingers can cause serious injury or death.

Swimming is not recommended.