Large stinger shock

17.05.2010

A CAIRNS dentist who "bumped into"
a large box jellyfish off South Mission
Beach yesterday is urging swimmers
not to let their guards down.
David Curnock is thankful for the
wetsuit that potentially saved his life
and is urging other beachgoers to protect
themselves as lifesavers prepare
to remove the region's stinger nets.
Surf Life Saving Queensland had
scheduled the removal of the nets from
Thursday, but North Queensland coordinator
Ebeny Keating said their
removal may now be delayed.
Dr Curnock, who has been diving
in the area over the past 40 years,
said the jellyfish was the largest he
had ever seen, measuring about 15cm
along each side.
"I've seen literally hundreds and
hundreds of them over the years - but
usually in cleaner water and in the
warmer months," Dr Curnock said.
"The force of me hitting it rolled it
over and you could see all the tentacles,
so I was able to identify it straight
away."
Dr Curnock said he encountered the
creature about 10m from the shore as
he waded away from his boat, which
his wife, Helen, was driving, about
11am.
Several groups of waterskiers were
in the water nearby.
"I went over and told them straight
away - there were lots of kids with
bare legs," Mrs Curnock said.
"I really think people should wear
stinger suits all the time."
Ms Keating confirmed lifesavers at
South Mission Beach had received a
report of a box jellyfish sighting and
were investigating further.
She said intensive drags to check for
jellyfish in the area had been coming
up clear over the past two weeks, but
the sighting was not a huge surprise.
"In past years, we have had the
(stinger) season go quite a bit longer,
so anything can be expected really."
Lifesavers will assess the situation
today before deciding whether to delay
the removal of stinger nets across the
region, she said.
Even after their removal, beach
users are encouraged to wear stinger
suits.
Box jellyfish, one of the most venomous
creatures known to man, have
been blamed for dozens of deaths in
northern Australian waters.
A seven-year-old boy died within
minutes of being stung by a box
jellyfish in shallow waters at Mission
Beach in March, 2003.