Shocked man finds a deadly blue-ringed octopus in a kids’ paddling pool at a popular Sydney beach
- Troy McKibbin, 39, pulled the highly-poisonous creature from a rockpool
- He took to a local Facebook group on Wednesday morning to alert parents
- The toxic blue-ringed octopus carries enough venom to kill 26 people in minutes
A shocked beach-goer has issued a desperate warning to parents after he found a deadly blue-ringed octopus living in a kids’ paddling area.
Troy McKibbin, 39, pulled the highly-poisonous creature from the Ross Jones Rockpool at Coogee Beach in Sydney on Tuesday.
He took to a local Facebook group on Wednesday morning to alert parents.
The toxic octopus carries enough venom to kill 26 people in minutes.
Troy McKibbin (pictured with his partner), 39, pulled the highly-poisonous creature from the Ross Jones Rockpool at Coogee Beach in Sydney on Tuesday
‘Removed this little guy (blue-ringed octopus) from the Ross Jones Rockpool,’ he wrote on Facebook
‘Removed this little guy (blue-ringed octopus) from the Ross Jones Rockpool,’ he wrote.
‘Was in the little area outside the pool where all the kids always play in the water, so just a heads up to be careful.
‘[I] put it back on the rocks much further south.’
He also shared information about what to do if bitten.
The find marks the second blue-ringed octopus discovered at Coogee Beach (stock image pictured) within the last few weeks
Locals were quick to thank Mr McKibbin for the notice.
‘Holy crap. I let my son play there without direct supervision all day,’ one horrified parent said.
‘Have never seen or heard of these being at Coogee Beach – or at least not washed up on the shore like that.’
‘Wow. Thank you for your care of local kids as well as this beautiful creature,’ another commented.
‘How lucky you are to have had the opportunity to see such a beauty on our doorstep.’
Mr Mckibben said he found it in the area outside the pool where kids play in the water
Locals were quick to thank Mr McKibbin for the notice. ‘Holy crap. I let my son play there without direct supervision all day,’ one horrified parent said
The find marks the second blue-ringed octopus discovered at Coogee Beach within the last few weeks.
In January, a woman stumbled upon one of the toxic animals between the rocks at the McIver Women’s Baths.
She saw its blue markings warning children who were playing nearby.
The animals typically aren’t aggressive but will bite if provoked.