Box jellyfish sting kills woman in Koh Pha-ngan

[PeteC]

Box jellyfish sting kills woman in Koh Pha-ngan

The Nation August 2, 2015 1:00 am

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 65700.html

A Thai tourist has died after being stung by a box jellyfish while swimming off Koh Pha-ngan in Surat Thani on Friday night.

Following the 9.30pm report of the incident, Koh Pha-ngan police went to Koh Pha-ngan Hospital and learned that the 31-year-old woman was dead.

Police learned that the woman had travelled to the island from Bangkok with friends and went swimming at around 8pm in Tambon Ban Tai and was stung.

One of the world's most poisonous creatures, this cube-shaped jellyfish's sting can cause extreme pain, muscle numbness, stomach and back muscle spasms, nausea, vomiting, chest tightness and death.

Koh Pha-ngan Hospital's Dr Thanuwat Tippinit warned that this type of jellyfish was more prevalent during rains.

Thanuwat said the proper way to treat a sting with first aid involved pouring vinegar onto the wound.

Last August, a five-year-old French boy died from a box jellyfish sting on Koh Pha-ngan.

[Big Boy]

After being away from Hua Hin/the beach for a week or so, I returned to walk the dogs late yesterday afternoon. For the first time in several months I saw a lot of jellyfish washed ashore. OK, they weren't Box jellyfish, but any jellyfish sting is uncomfortable.

Basically, after an absence for many weeks, they are back in numbers.

Please take care if venturing into the sea.