
Two teenagers have been hospitalised with stings by deadly Irukandji jellyfish in waters off Fraser Island in southeast Queensland.
The boy and girl were airlifted to Hervey Bay hospital on Friday afternoon after paramedics were called to their boat off the island’s western coast.
Two other people in their group with suspected stings were treated at the scene.
The barely visible creature, the Irukandji jellyfish, is also one of the most venomous on earth.
If you’ve ever travelled to the Great Barrier Reef, you’re no doubt familiar with the Irukandji jellyfish.
They’re the reason tourists wear wetsuits when swimming in the winter, and lighter stinger suits when swimming in the summer. But while you’ll hear the most about Irukandji around Cairns, they’ve also been spotted in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
And now, the deadly Irukandji Jellyfish are drifting further south along Queensland’s coastline.
Irukandji jellyfish caught on the western side of Queensland’s Fraser Island on Sunday prompted a serious warning for swimmers to stay out of the water.
So what are Irukandji jellyfish, and what are you meant to do if you’re stung?
What are Irukandji jellyfish?
Irukandji (Carukia barnesi) are a highly venomous species of jellyfish, making them potentially deadly for those who have been stung.
What is Irukandji syndrome?