SLSC closes Eimeo Beach after catching a box jellyfish
The 14-year-old was performing a routine jellyfish ‘drag’ at the North Queensland beach when he noticed the creature that would close the beach for most of the day
Mackay
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Eimeo Beach has been closed off to all swimmers after a box jellyfish the size of a hat was caught.
The Eimeo Surf Life Saving Club announced the closure after pulling the stinger out of the water about 9am Sunday morning.
It comes as Eimeo lifeguards pulled out several Irukandji on Saturday closing off the beach for the day.
Fourteen-year-old Izac Zamparutti caught the box jellyfish while doing a routine drag - when lifeguards drag a 10 metre long net across the beach.
“When we dragged it up we found a big one about the size of my hand,” he said.
“My first thought was to warn anyone and to close the beach.”
However, beachgoers didn’t let it hinder their Sundays as they took to the shade to cool down laying picnic blankets and beach towels under trees.
Jack and Peta Robinson weren’t too bothered after they had their plans to take out the paddle boards cancelled.
“We brought our books and chairs because we were going to read anyway so it doesn’t really affect us too much,” Mr Robinson said.
It comes after rain, heat and calm winds created the perfect conditions for an early stinger season this year, prompting calls from authorities for the public to follow warning signs.
Last year, a 14 year-old girl was “lucky to be alive” when she was stung in Airlie Beach, in the Whitsundays on December 30 when she was only knee deep.
Surf Lifesaving Queensland instructs people to take the following steps if they see someone had been stung by a Box Jellyfish.
- Remove casualty from water if safe to do so
- Danger►Response►Send for help►Airway►Breathing►CPR►Defibrillation
- If casualty has more than one localised single sting or looks/feels unwell, dial triple-0 and seek assistance from a lifeguard if availableAssess casualty and commence CPR immediately if required
- If possible, treat the sting by pouring vinegar for at least 30 seconds and then pick off the tentacles
- If vinegar is not available, pick off tentacles (this is not harmful to the rescuer) and rinse well with sea water. Apply a cold pack or ice in a bag for analgesia
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Originally published as SLSC closes Eimeo Beach after catching a box jellyfish
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