BRITS visiting a popular beach have been issued an urgent warning over “beautiful” creatures that could prove deadly.
Holidaymakers travelling to South Hams, Devon, have been warned to watch out for the dangerous Portuguese man o’war.
TwitterAn urgent warning has been issued over beautiful creatures that could prove deadly[/caption]
FacebookThe Portuguese Man O’War were spotted off the coast of Devon[/caption]
Locals and visitors to the area are being warned after a number of the sea dwellers have been spotted on shores in the area.
The rare man o’war looks like a deflated balloon with long blue tentacles that can stretch almost 30 feet
The unusual sea creatures, which look similar to a jellyfish, have been found across some of the county’s sandy shorelines.
But while the fascinating creature looks inviting, beach-goers are being reminded to avoid touching them as their sting packs a nasty punch.
People are urged to watch out as the predators’ tentacles can wrap around unsuspecting swimmers.
Their powerful sting can cause an allergic reaction resulting in painful scars and welts on exposed skin.
South Hams District Council (SHDC) has taken to social media warning locals and visitors of the Portuguese Man O’War which can rarely be “deadly”.
The council also urged dog-walkers to keep their pets away from the dangerous sea creatures.
In a statement on Facebook, a SHDC said: “Portuguese Man O’War have been spotted on South Hams’ beaches.
“These colourful and fascinating animals are closely related to jellyfish, with a translucent purple float, tipped with pink, and long blueish-violet tentacles.
“While they are rarely deadly, they do give a very nasty sting even long after they are dead. This sting can cause painful swelling welts when in contact with the skin.
“So, how can you help? Keep children and dogs away and don’t touch.”
Resembling a Portuguese warship under full sail the man o’war can be easily confused for a jellyfish.
But unlike the small creatures, this one can be blue, violet or pink and it can lurk up to six inches above the waterline.
The NHS recommends that if you are stung by a Portuguese man o’war, you should rinse the affected area with sea water and remove spines from the skin with tweezers or a bank card.
Do not pour on vinegar, pee on the sting, apply ice or a cold pack, touch any spines with your bare hands or cover or close the wound.
Experts are urging to never use urine to relieve the sting as it can make it worse and cause a severe infection.
If stung, you are also advised to soak the area with very warm water and take over the counter painkillers.
The wound should be treated with anaesthetic gels or pain relief creams.
Most importantly, get help straight away as stings can result in severe dermatitis and in rare cases can be deadly.
What is Portuguese Man o’ War and why are they so dangerous?
The man o’war is not a true jellyfish but a colony made up of small individual animals called polyps that are unable to survive alone.
Portuguese man o’ war – also known as the floating terror – have an extremely powerful sting that on rare occasions can kill.
The sea creatures (Physalia physalis) are not true jellyfish but siphonophores.
These are colonies of hydrozoans – lots of tiny marine organisms living together and behaving collectively as one animal.
They get their name from the balloon-like “sail” that floats above the water, which was said to resemble a type of 18th century warship.
Unable to move independently, the creature floats on the surface and is propelled by a balloon-like ‘sail.’
Its tentacles can be more than 30 metres long and they deliver a painful sting causing whip-like red welts on human skin.
Stings are not usually fatal but can provoke an allergic-type reaction in some cases, while urgent medical attention might be needed if a person comes into contact with many tentacles.
Instances where a tentacle becomes wrapped around the victim’s torso are said to cause the most deaths, especially in children.
The polyps can detach from the body of the man o’war and float for several days while remaining venomous.
Brushing against one can lead to an agonising and potentially lethal sting.
A stranded Portuguese man o’ war looks a bit like a deflating purple balloon about the size of a Cornish pasty with blue ribbons attached.
They drift on the ocean currents and every year they wash up in their thousands on beaches from Britain to Australia.
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