Mackay jellyfish: Teen dies after box jellyfish sting at Eimeo Beach

Floral tributes have been left on the shore of the beach where a 14-year-old boy was stung in a deadly box jellyfish in Mackay as the coastal community mourns his death.

The beach where a teenage boy emerged from the waters with more than 2m of tentacles wrapped around his lower body is closed as heartfelt condolences flow after his death.

Eimeo Surf Life Saving Club has closed Eimeo Beach until further notice after the tragedy on Saturday afternoon.

The club, in a statement, said it extended its condolences and sympathy to the boy’s family and friends.

“We also thank and acknowledge the many members of the public who assisted our volunteer lifesavers in rendering assistance during yesterday’s tragic event, as well as emergency services,” the statement read.

“Please consider your own wellbeing and if affected, please seek out any of the wonderful support services that are available.”

The deadly box jellyfish sting is the first since 2021 when a 17-year-old man was struck in waters off the Cape York region, and only the third since 2006.

The tragedy has shocked the Mackay community, where beaches are a way of life.

“So incredibly sad. Deepest sympathy to his family and all the people involved with trying to help him,” Dianne Gauci wrote on a social media post of the tragedy.

“So devastating. Praying for the family, the emergency workers, and everyone involved. May his soul rest in peace,” wrote Rachel Knight.

The teen died in hospital just hours after a box jellyfish sting on Mackay’s Eimeo Beach.

The 14-year-old Mackay boy emerged from the water about 2.30pm with “two metres of tentacles” wrapped around arms and bare legs.

The teenager went into cardiac arrest, with lifesavers and nearby beachgoers rushing to perform CPR until emergency services arrived.

A police spokesman said the boy was taken to Mackay Base Hospital about 3.22pm, dying about an hour later.

The death is the third fatal box jellyfish sting since 2006, with the most recent tragedy taking the life of a 17-year-old boy near Cape York in February last year.

A mother has told of the horrifying scene that unfolded on Eimeo Beach when the young Mackay teen emerged from the water with tentacles covering his bare legs.

Kirby Dash was at the beach with family celebrating her mother’s birthday when the traumatic scene unfolded.

Paramedics and police are tending to a teenager that reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest after a box jellyfish sting at Eimeo Beach, February 26, 2022. Picture: Tara Miko

She said she watched as the young teen stumbled through water up to his waist wearing an unreadable expression on his face.

Only moments later did she realise what was happening as the boy managed to let out a groan for help.

“He had gone into shock,” she said.

“His legs were covered in tentacles.”

Mrs Dash said the beach erupted with parents screaming for children to get out of the water while others ran to help the young boy.

She said the lifeguards sprung into action, with a group of young men and her brother helping as they performed CPR to keep the boy alive while others on the beach rushed to aid the first responders with water and towels.

Paramedics were called the scene about 2.30pm, just outside of the Eimeo Surf Life Saving Club.

Eimeo Surf Life Saving Club president Ross Gee was the first to the scene, and he said the semi-conscious teenager had suffered a sting “which can be fatal”.

Paramedics and police are tending to a teenager that reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest after a box jellyfish sting at Eimeo Beach, February 26, 2022. Picture: Tara Miko

“We were there as he exited the water, quickly after that he was semi-conscious,” he said.

“We had a defib on him the whole time, he never lost his pulse, there was shallow breathing.

“We doused him with approximately 30 litres of vinegar, all the vinegar on the beach.

“After that I was confident enough to remove all the stingers from his legs and hand.”

District Duty Officer Senior Sergeant Andy Buteaux said paramedics had to resuscitate the teenager.

A 14-year-old boy is fighting for his life in Mackay Base Hospital after the sting of a box jellyfish put him into cardiac arrest at Eimeo Beach on February 26, 2022. Picture: Tara Miko

“He’s had a lot of venom injected into him,” he said.

“He was in cardiac arrest, the surf rescue and members of the public were resuscitating him prior to the ambulances arriving and paramedics took over and put an automatic machine on the child’s chest.”

Sergeant Buteaux said SLS crews had completed a net sweep less than 15 minutes before the sting.

“The lifesavers had dragged a net through that area,” he said.

“Once they bring that net out, if they locate any form of jellyfish then the beach is immediately closed, they dragged it a few times and there was no jellyfish in that net.

“Approximately 15 minutes later the child came running out with a box jellyfish wrapped around him.”

Paramedics worked on the child for about 40 minutes before he was taken to Mackay Base Hospital.

Originally published as Mackay jellyfish: Teen dies after box jellyfish sting at Eimeo Beach