(Newser)
– Signs commonly posted in Australia’s coastal communities warn swimmers not to dive during the “diving season”, but those warnings were not enough to save a 17-year-old boy who died on Monday, a week after a rare attack by an extremely poisonous jellyfish in Queensland. Authorities say the teenager was swimming on a beach in Bamaga, Cape York, on Feb. 22, when he was bitten by a box jellyfish, a box-shaped sea creature with long tentacles of spikes stuffed with poison, according to the BBC, which notes that the sting of this jellyfish can cause paralysis and cardiac arrest in the victim and be fatal. 9News identifies the teen as Tommy Johnson, who police say died Monday at Townsville Hospital after being removed from life support about a week after the incident.
It was the first known death in the country for a box jellyfish since 2006. “Unfortunately, that [previous] The death also occurred in Bamaga, “a marine biologist told ABC Australia. Dr Marlow Coates, head of local health, said” box jellyfish and jellyfish that cause Irukandji syndrome have recently been observed. in our waters, “according to 9News, which notes that someone who stings for one of these creatures should expect immediate and intense pain. The sting should be treated with vinegar, not fresh or salt water, which can to make matters worse.You should not try to remove your tentacles or scrub the place either. Or you can avoid this type of injury completely by heeding Coates’ warning: “If you don’t have a protective suit and you know there may be stings or jellyfish in the water, do not enter. “(Read more jellyfish stories.)