Dangerous stingers still about

12.04.2010

A WOMAN was stung by a potentially deadly
irukandji jellyfish on Magnetic Island
yesterday prompting calls to remember the
most dangerous part of the stinger season is
still upon us.
The 17-year-old arrived at the Magnetic
Island Health Service Centre just before 9am
after receiving the sting to her hand.
An ambulance officer said she was
transferred to the Townsville Hospital in a
stable condition.
Surf Lifesaving Queensland regional
manager Peter Roulston said at this time of
year stingers were fully grown and at their
most harmful.
He said box jellyfish needed to reach adult
size to grow tentacles to cause a sting and this
was more prevalent at this time of year.
"I'd say this time of the season is worse than
at the start because they are fully grown," he
said. "We hope to end the stinger season on
May 14 pending there are none in the drags
from the 1st. We end the season 14 days after
the last drag so if we find one on the 5th of
May, the season will end on May 19."
Mr Roulston said despite the danger of the
larger stingers, it would be more of a worry
for lifeguards if there were juveniles still
floating around at this time of year.
He said younger jellyfish at this point in the
season would signal a longer season as they
took time to reach maturity.
"People need to be aware they are a bit
more prevalent," he said.
"There are signs they are picking up by the
baby prawns we are catching in the nets.
"We dragged 50 or 60 baby prawns on
Magnetic Island and that's what they eat so
they will be around chasing them."
Yesterday's sting on Magnetic Island
follows an irukandji sting last week in Bowen.
A 10 year-old boy was taken to Bowen
Hospital on Monday in a stable condition
following an incident at Horseshoe Bay.