Tourist stung ‘on the face’ by deadly Irukandji on the Whitsundays

A tourist stung on the face by a deadly Irukandji jellyfish while holidaying in North Queensland has been flown to hospital in a serious condition.

RACQ CQ Rescue transported a tourist stung on the face by an Irukandji jellyfish in the Whitsundays on Friday. Picture: RACQ CQ Rescue.

A tourist stung on the face by a deadly Irukandji jellyfish while holidaying in North Queensland has been flown to hospital in a serious condition.

The RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter responded when a 41-year-old New South Wales man was stung on the face by an Irukandji jellyfish while swimming at Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday at 9.45am on Friday.

The Mackay-based helicopter’s on-board medical team collected antivenene from the hospital before flying 90km north to Hamilton Island, landing at the airport.

A tiny but fully grown deadly Irukandji jellyfish lies next to match sticks for size comparison. (AP Photo/Brian Cassey, File)

The man, who was holidaying in the Whitsundays, was in considerable pain and suffering symptoms of the potentially deadly Irukandji syndrome.

He was transferred to Mackay Base Hospital in a serious condition.

Irukandji are known for their small size and highly venomous sting, which often leads to hospitalisation and can be fatal. Their sting is considered “10 out of 10” on the pain scale.

It comes after the RACQ CQ Rescue crew completed seven missions since Friday including airlifting a 73-year-old Ayr man with suspected broken bones and serious internal injuries after he fell from a roof at his home at 11.45am on Monday.

The man was flown north to Townsville University Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Originally published as Tourist stung ‘on the face’ by deadly Irukandji on the Whitsundays