Hundreds Get Stung by Lion's Mane
Official reports state that hundreds of beach goers got stung by a giant jellyfish at Rye, New Hampshire on Wednesday. What people thought was a log, turned out to be a jellyfish rare for the region, a giant Loin's Mane. It had to be speared with a pitchfork by lifeguards. Matters were made worse when the still active stingers went floating in the waters after its death.
Amongst the victims there were nine children who were stung at Wallis Sands State Park were treated at Portsmouth Hospital, authorities said.
"It feels like a big bunch of wasps were swarming on my hand, stinging me," said 7-year-old Pauly Buckles. His 5-year-old sister suffered worse fate and was also needed medical care.
"She was stung on her chest, her back, her stomach, her face, her hands. Pretty much everywhere," said her mother, Donna Buckles.
"My daughter was screaming. We were trying to figure out what was wrong with her so we picked her up and started to get out of the water and then they started to announce they had caught a jellyfish that had split into pieces and there might be tentacles in the water," said Shannon Kirshenbaum.
Doug Grout, chief of marine fisheries for the state, said was likely a Lion's Mane jellyfish, a species rarely seen so far south and in shallow waters.
"The jellyfish have nematisists, they're actually like little harpoons that go into your flesh, and even after you get out of the water, because they're so small, you can still have remains of the tentacles on your skin. You're out of the water and you're still being stung," said Steve Spina of the New England Aquarium.
In the northern New England, they average 8 feet in diameter and can have tentacles as long as 150 feet. However, this particular specimen that had reached New Hampshire seemed to is presumed to be much smaller.
Paramedics took steps that are considered to be the best possible remedy for a situation like this. They helped some of the swimmers by applying white vinegar and rinsing of the tentacles.
Lifeguards will keep a look out for any other jellyfish, but the beach was expected to be open Thursday.
An incident like this one is enough to put fear back into the hearts of beach-goers. While a jellyfish is no white shark, it is extremely dangerous.
Link: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/24350219/detail.html
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