Fifth child stung by suspected irukandji on Fraser Island

A fifth child has been flown off Fraser Island in the space of little over a week after a suspected irukandji sting.

The LifeFlight Rescue helicopter flew to the western side of the island, shortly after 6.30pm and the pilot was able to land on the beach.

A fifth child has suffered a suspected irukandji sting in the space of little more than a week on Fraser Island (K’gari).

Paramedics attended the scene near Bowal Creek at 6.13pm to treat a primary school aged female patient for a suspected Irukandji jellyfish envenomation.

The LifeFlight Rescue helicopter flew to the western side of the island, shortly after 6.30pm and the pilot was able to land on the beach.

It’s believed the primary school-aged girl had been swimming in the ocean near the popular creek when she was stung on her lower back and leg.

Queensland, Jamie Seymour caught this Irukandji on Friday night, 30 metres off the Fraser Island shore.

Her parents administered first aid, using vinegar and water, before the rescue chopper arrived.

The girl, who was accompanied by her mother, was transported by helicopter in a stable condition to Hervey Bay Hospital.

It comes after three young girls were suspected to have been stung by the jellyfish on December 27 and a young boy was stung on December 28.

All of the children had to be flown to Hervey Bay Hospital.

Irukandji are known for their small size and highly venomous sting, which often leads to hospitalisation and can be fatal.

The LifeFlight Rescue helicopter flew to the western side of the island, shortly after 6.30pm and the pilot was able to land on the beach.

Last week, Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine Cairns Professor Jamie Seymour said more research needed to be done into the spread of the animals, with more irukandji now being found in waters along the southern Queensland coast. calling for more funding to be provided by the State Government.

“I mean we would drop everything tomorrow and come down and work ourselves stupid down there if we could find research funding to do it,” he told the Chronicle.

“But we can’t. As a result, nothing happens.”

Mr Seymour fears it will take a tragedy to change things.

“I hope that nobody ever gets in a situation where they are in a life-threatening position from an irukandji sting, but I have to say that it is going to happen at some stage down there.”

Originally published as Fifth child stung by suspected irukandji on Fraser Island