Mel and Reef Brookes show the community how to prepare for stingers with their Oceanic Tales Marine Kits

When a Whitsundays boy was stung by a deadly Irukandji jellyfish, he and his mum went looking for something to help on future swims. Instead, they found a gap in the market.

Whitsunday local Mel Brookes created the Marine Kit after her son Reef was stung by a jellyfish. Photo: Contributed

Mel Brookes and her family know all too well the dangers of stinger season after her son, Reef, was stung by a deadly Irukandji jellyfish.

Now, they run a business around stinger education and treatment.

Speaking to this publication after three people were taken to hospital in Airlie Beach alone over the past two weeks to be treated for stings from various types of jellyfish, the savvy mum recounted her experience.

In September 2024 she was at Boathaven Beach with her sons and a group of friends, when the nightmare unfolded.

She said the beach was packed with kids, locals and out of towners, all swimming in the ocean

“We didn’t think for one second, we were risking being stung by a jelly,” Ms Brookes explained.

But when Reef ran out of the water in pain, with rapidly moving blisters on his foot, his mum knew he had been stung by a jellyfish.

The Marine Kit has all of the essentials for a beach day. Photo: Contributed

An ambulance was called while beachgoers frantically located the small amount of vinegar at the beach along with an ice pack to relieve the pain.

Reef was taken to hospital for observation with his heart rate spiking but was lucky to not only survive but also be discharged that day.

“That evening we were so lucky to walk out and go home exhausted but with no serious or life-threatening damage after the sting,” Ms Brookes said.

After speaking with nurses and doctors, the family believes the freshwater rinse, ice pack and vinegar helped stop the venom from moving any further, so Reef and Mel decided to search the internet to make sure they were better prepared for future beach trips.

Instead, they found the resources they were looking for did not exist.

“There was absolutely nothing around unless I wanted to spend hundreds of dollars, time, and effort and get all the items separately,” she said.

It was Reef’s idea to make a kit that they could share with the community, and so Oceanic Tales Marine Kits were born.

In the 10L Waterproof Dry Bag, buyers will find vinegar, sunscreen, aloe vera, bug spray, a fully stocked first aid kit, a single use ice pack, electrolytes and ginger tables, a waterproof phone case, and an information card made by Reef with the DRSABC and basic stinger safety information.

Ms Brookes said her marine kit lived with her now, in the car and boat, wherever she went, because she knew no one was invincible around the water.

“There are so many beautiful places to explore and have adventures, but help isn’t always available when you need it quickly,” she said, adding she now felt sick to her stomach when she saw people heading into the water unprepared.

Whitsunday local Mel Brookes now has her kit with her at all times. Photo: Contributed

“I’ve been walking my dog a few times and told people to get out of the beach and they just laugh,” she said.

“It’s sad but there are so many that are still uneducated or believe the stingers don’t exist because they haven’t seen them.

“I myself have swum in the ocean hundreds of times without a stinger suit but it’s times like this and a big wake up call to change.”

The mum hopes more can be done in the community to spread stinger awareness and provide protection for those who do go in the water.

More information about the kits can be found here.

Originally published as Mel and Reef Brookes show the community how to prepare for stingers with their Oceanic Tales Marine Kits