17-year-old Tommy Johnson dies after box jellyfish sting in Far North Queensland

Death of Tommy Johnson, stung as he swam with family, is the first linked to a box jellyfish in 14 years.

Tommy Johnson, 17, went out with family for a day at the beach netting, when he was tragically stung by a box jelly fish. Picture: Picture GoFundMe

A teenager has died after he was stung by a box jellyfish in what is the first death linked to the venomous sea creature in more than a decade.

Tommy Johnson, 17, had been swimming with his family at Patterson Beach, Bamaga, at the tip of the Cape York Peninsula, when he was stung on February 22. The Royal Flying Doctors Service intubated and flew the teenager to Townsville Base Hospital in a critical condition but he was unable to be saved.

He died a week later, last Monday, surrounded by family and friends, just three days shy of his 18th birthday.

Tommy has been remembered as a “loving and humble boy” who enjoyed hunting, fishing, diving and horse riding.

In a post on a GoFundMe page dedicated to raising money for ­funeral costs, friend Tomaseena Jawai said Tommy was an avid footballer.

“He loved sports and was always one to try everything,” ­Tomaseena said.

“He was so talented, he was ­selected countless times for rep sides for AFL and rugby league all through the Cairns, Townsville and NPA Region, that spoke of his high performance on and off the field. He was a loving and a caring big brother, who will now be truly missed by his family, and all of his friends.”

The box jellyfish in the Mackay Marina. Picture: Megan Love

The Australian box jellyfish, Chironex fleckeri, is considered extremely dangerous, appearing in northern waters through the warmer months. Almost 80 deaths have been linked to the large and near-transparent creature since records began in the 1880s.

The most recent death was in November 2007, when a six-year-old boy died after emerging from the shallows of a remote beach in the Northern Territory with the bulk of a box jellyfish’s tentacles wrapped around his chest screaming, “I’ve been stung’’ before collapsing on the sand.

A year earlier, a seven-year-old girl also died at Bamaga after emerging from the water covered in stingers. Bystanders and paramedics were unable to revive her and she was pronounced dead at the local hospital.

The Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council renewed its plea to residents to stay out of the water during stinger season.

“Parents, we cannot stress enough on how important it is to keep your children away from the water,” the note read.

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service northern director of medical services Marlow Coates last week issued a warning to swimmers in the state’s north to stay out of the water unless they had stinger-protective clothing.

“It can be difficult to work out which species of jellyfish has caused a sting, so if in doubt, treat as if it was potentially serious,’’ he said.

Queensland Police said a ­report into Tommy’s death was being prepared for the Coroner.