A BEACH on one of Britain’s favourite sunshine getaways was turned into a danger zone after the world’s most dangerous jellyfish washed ashore.
The Portuguese Man O’War was discovered in Cala en Porter, a popular beach in Menorca after a beachgoer spotted the bizarre-looking blob on the sand.
AlamyA Portuguese Man O’War jellyfish washed ashore on one of Britain’s favourite holiday hotspots[/caption]
GettyThe dangerous creature was found by a beachgoer in Cala en Porter, Menorca[/caption]
Lifeguards then quickly retried the deadly drifter, cordoning off a wide section of the beach before local cops swooped in to take over.
The creature – which isn’t technically a jellyfish but a colonial organism – is rarely seen outside the open Atlantic.
It can cause permanent scars or even kill people with allergies.
Even if you are not near its head, the trailing tentacles can give you a painful sting when you least expect it.
Highlighting its deceptive beauty, authorities warned: “It has an intense poisonous colour in purple, blue and pink.”
The appearance follows a jaw-dropping jellyfish invasion in the Canary Islands.
The popular Playa del Cura in Gran Canaria turned blue after a storm dumped tens of thousands of stinging jellyfish onto the sand.
In an incredible video, the popular beach looked like a scene from a sci-fi movie, blanketed in vivid blue jellyfish that left stunned tourists steering clear.
Experts say the jellyfish surge is linked to warming seas and rising pollution, as jellyfish thrive in low-oxygen zones where other marine life can’t survive.
Back in Menorca, the man-of-war is a stark reminder that beachgoers must stay alert.
“Touching the mollusc can cause permanent scars and, in extreme cases, even lead to death in people with allergies,” beach officials reiterated.
Local authorities are monitoring the waters and warn tourists not to approach any strange blobs they spot on the sand – no matter how pretty they look.
Last year, thousands of venomous jellyfish were found on the beaches of Cornwall.
Mauve Stingers, also known as Pelagia noctiluca, were found both in the water and dead in the sand.
While their stings are not lethal, they are known to be quite painful.
The Mauve Stinger can grow up to 10cm across while its tentacles can be up to 10 feet long.
AlamyThe creature has dangerous tentacles that can stretch up to 30 feet[/caption]
GettyIn rare cases, the Man O’War’s sting can even cause death, especially in people with allergies[/caption]
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.”
What is the Portuguese man o’ war?
THE Portuguese Man O’War, often mistaken for a jellyfish, is actually a siphonophore – a colony of specialised organisms working together.
Known for its deadly sting, this marine menace has tentacles that can stretch up to 30 feet and deliver excruciating pain and permanent scarring.
In rare cases it can even cause death, particularly in individuals with allergies.
Its vivid blue, purple, and pink hues serve as a natural warning to keep away.
Although typically found drifting through the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, sightings in the Mediterranean – especially around Mallorca and Menorca – have led to temporary beach closures in recent years.
The Man O’War is a carnivorous predator, using its venom to paralyse small fish, shrimp, and plankton before dragging them into its digestive polyps.
Despite its fearsome defences, it does have a few natural predators, including loggerhead turtles, blue sea slugs, and the remarkable man-of-war fish, which has evolved to live among its toxic tentacles.
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