Apocalyptic scenes as 1,000s of venomous jellyfish with 10ft tentacles are found by beachgoer in UK – & no one knows why
HORROR scenes have emerged on one of Britain’s most popular coastlines as thousands of venomous jellyfish have been found.
The Mauve Stingers, also known as Pelagia noctiluca, were found both in the water and dead on the beaches of Cornwall.
While their stings are not lethal, they are known to be quite painful.
The Mauve Stinger can grow up to 10 cm across while its tentacles can be up to 10 feet long.
The jellyfish are purple or blue in colour, hence the name Mauve, and were spotted on a 30-mile stretch of coastline between Falmouth and St Austell.
Rachael Edmans, the beachgoer in Falmouth who spotted the apocalyptic scene was shocked to see just how many had been washed up as she went for a paddle in the sea.
“I was very surprised to see so many mauve stingers,” she said.
“Usually we see lots of compass jellyfish. But never that many.”
Alison Wilcock spotted thousands of the sea creatures on the beaches of St Austell.
“We usually get a few every year but nothing like this,” she said of the thousands of dangerous blobs scattering the beach.
“The whole of St Austell is teeming with them.”
A Wildlife Trust spokesperson has warned that while the jellyfish is small, it “certainly packs a powerful punch.”
This is because it has “long tentacles and warty structures on its ‘bell’ full of stinging cells,” they explained.
The Cornwall Wildlife Trust has issued a warning about the jellyfish on Facebook, highlighting that they can still sting when out of the water.
The post read: “We’ve received lots of reports of more mauve stingers washing up on Cornwall’s beaches over the weekend.
“Hundreds of jellyfish can be seen in the rockpools and on the beach [in Falmouth].
What to do if you get stung
Cornish Watersports issued the following advice on Facebook after thousands of the stinger jellyfish washed up:
1. Rinse the affected area with seawater (not freshwater)
2. Remove any spines from the skin using tweezers or the edge of a bank card.
3. Soak the area in very warm water (as hot as can be tolerated) for at least 30 minutes – use hot flannels or towels if you cannot soak it.
4. Take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen.
5. Obviously, if you are prone to have an allergic reaction to any stingers go straight to A&E.
Cornwall Watersports also advice that those who get stung call NHS 111 for further advice.
“Did you see them? Or suffer their sting?! Be careful!
“The mauve stinger is a small jellyfish, but one that packs a powerful punch, with long tentacles and warty structures on its ‘bell’ full of stinging cells, even when washed ashore.”
One unfortunate swimmer from Lizard, south of Falmouth and St Austell, posted a photo of a nasty sting three days after she ran into one of the jellyfish in a post-run swim at Gylly Beach.
“Be careful Cornish sea swimmers. It really hurt!” she warned.
Cornish Watersports has urged those in the sea to wear a wetsuit while also sharing advice on what to do if you get stung.
Other reports have come in from Cork, Ireland showing a swarm of Mauve Jellyfish taking over the waters there too.
It is relatively uncommon to find these jellyfish in British waters, especially in such large swathes, according to the Wildlife Trusts.
The Mauve Stinger prefers warmer waters such as the Mediterranean, 1,000 miles away.
Rising sea temperatures have likely brought the masses of jellyfish to UK shores.