Box jellyfish incidents reinforce need for stinger safety in North Queensland

Despite cooling weather, it is still not safe to venture into the ocean in NQ without the protection of stinger nets, as two separate incidents have highlighted.

A 17cm box jellyfish was pulled from the water at Forrest Beach on Sunday. Picture: Forrest Beach SLC.

Two alarming incidents have reinforced the need for North Queensland’s swimmers not to become complacent when entering the ocean, despite the Autumn weather becoming cooler.

Cungulla Recreational Fishing & Social Club member Carlene Shaw shared a post to social media on Sunday, describing how a family came to the club seeking vinegar after their young boy was stung by a jellyfish at Salmon Creek, Cungulla, about 40km west of Townsville.

With the vinegar not working and triple-0 called, Ms Shaw applauded the help provided by local first responder Kelz MacRae until the Giru Ambulance arrived.

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said they were called to the club at 4.10pm.

She described the boy as suffering “big welts and lots of pain” as a result of a suspected jellyfish sting.

He was transported to Townsville University Hospital in a serious condition, but has since been released, the hospital confirmed.

Distribution and size of box jellyfish. Picture: SLSQ.

Further north at the Forrest Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, east of Ingham, they shared a disturbing image of a large 17cm box jellyfish (chironex fleckeri) that was netted on Sunday during a routine drag outside the stinger net enclosure.

“This is a deadly box jellyfish with tentacles that stretch as long as 2 metres. A sting by one this size is fatal,” Forrest Beach SLSC said in their post.

Club president Lyle Cantoni said the catch was a timely reminder, on the eve of the Easter holidays, that we were still in stinger season.

“While the stinger enclosures are in, it’s important to swim inside them. Ideally for extra protection a full body lycra suit is recommended as well,” Mr Cantoni said.

“It is also important to stay off and well away from the pontoons of the net.

“The conditions lately we have been having with extremely calm waters and hot days tend to be ideal for stingers.”

Reminding swimmers to swim between the flags, he said volunteer patrols in their branch would continue until the first weekend in May.

Surf Lifesaving Queensland said box jellyfish and irukandji were classed as dangerous tropical marine stingers.

“While marine stingers may be present throughout the entire year in tropical Queensland, the risk associated with these two types of potentially dangerous jellyfish are higher during the marine stinger season that typically runs from November through to May,” SLC warned.

“During these warmer months, it is of particular importance to swim only at a patrolled beach under the guidance and supervision of lifesavers and lifeguards.”

First aid treatment for jellyfish stings

All jellyfish stings north of Agnes Water should be doused with vinegar, with the casualty to remain out of the water.

• Remove casualty from water if safe to do so

• Commence first aid as required (DRSABCD)

• Remove any adhering tentacles

• Wash area with sea water (not freshwater)

• Place the sting area in hot water for 20 minutes (no hotter than the patient can comfortably tolerate)

• If local pain is unrelieved by heat or if hot water is not available, apply a cold pack or ice in a bag

• If pain persists or is generalised, or if the sting area is large or involves sensitive areas (e.g. the eyes), dial triple-0 (000) and seek assistance from lifesavers/lifeguards if available.

Originally published as Box jellyfish incidents reinforce need for stinger safety in North Queensland