Deadly jellyfish mysteriously appear off popular tourist spot with swimmers told not to enter the water without bodysuits
- Irukandji jellyfish have been spotted off the coast of Fraser Island, Queensland
- One person was stung while swimming on Sunday and was rushed to hospital
- People have been advised to swim in a wet suit if venturing into the water
Swimmers have been told not to enter the water at a popular holiday spot without full body wetsuits after hordes of deadly Irukandji jellyfish mysteriously appeared at the weekend.
The warning was issued by marine park authorities on Monday after a person was stung on Sunday off the western side of Fraser Island, near Hervey Bay Queensland.
The extremely venomous species of box jellyfish is expected to stay in the water surrounding the Queensland beach for the next few days.
A spokeswoman from the Hervey Bay Marine Rescue told Daily Mail Australia there was not enough information to determine why the jellyfish have appeared.
An urgent warning has been issued to swimmers after Irukandji jellyfish were spotted in the water (stock)
The warning (pictured) was made by Hervey Bay Marine Rescue on Monday after a person was stung on the western side of Fraser Island on Sunday
The rescue group’s Facebook post advised people they should wear full body wet suit or protective clothing in the water.
The social media post also said people should carry vinegar with them and pour it on the wound if stung before going to the hospital immediately.
‘Luckily marine stingers are not around our beautiful area of Hervey Bay all the time,’ the post said.
‘We just happen to be at the height of a spike at the moment. Experts advise it is a rare thing for people to be stung, but it is particularly nasty when it does happen.’
Irukandji jellyfish are translucent and are usually one to three centimetres in size.
People who are stung experience muscle pain, vomiting, nausea, restlessness, difficulty breathing, anxiety, headaches and sweating.
Irukandji jellyfish have been seen between Hervey Bay (pictured) and Fraser Island
About 30 per cent of sting victims need to be placed on life support while they experience the worst symptoms.
A quarter of people have issues with their heart or experience neurological damage for the rest of their lives.
Dr Lisa-Ann Gershwin, an expert on the marine stingers, told 7news.com.au that their appearance is most likely due to the wind.
Irukandji jellyfish are translucent and are usually one to three centimetres in size (stock)
‘We don’t have enough research into the Fraser region, but studies from further north in 2011 showed a northerly wind was driving them up the water column,’ she said.
‘It’s a recurring theme, clearly something’s happening.’
She said there are a handful of cases every year between Christmas and New Years – which can be dangerous.
‘It’s not like you die or you’re okay, there is serious lasting damage,’ she said.