News/Alerts

 Bruce Mckean...Daily Mercury... 

A giant box jellyfish is big enough to kill anyone and it was found in about one-third of a metre of water at Eimeo Beach.

Volunteer surf lifesaver Alan Zamparutti is holding it head-high but he still cannot lift the tentacles off the ground.

“It's our seventh season here at the Eimeo Surf Life Saving Club and in all that time we've never seen a box jellyfish anywhere near as big as this,” Mr Zamparutti said yesterday.

The potentially-lethal box jellyfish, about 30cm in diameter across the bell, forced the closure of Eimeo Beach to the public on Sunday afternoon and, because there are no lifesavers on duty during this week, it will remain closed until a drag for stingers can be done next Saturday.

“This monster was caught at 1.10pm on Sunday, at low tide, in 30cm of water in a 'false lagoon' that forms when the tide is right out and water is trapped behind the sand bar,” Mr Zamparutti said.

“One of our volunteers took her kids to wade in the lagoon, noticed it and just scooped it up in a bucket.

“We believe it's the biggest one ever caught at Eimeo Beach since patrolling started.

“This one was huge. I couldn't lift it high enough to get all the stingers clear of the ground. The tentacles were between 2.3m to 2.6m. This was a real wake-up call for many on the beach who believe the weather is now cool enough for them (stingers) to not be around.

“We cleared about 30 people from the water many of whom were children, none of whom were wearing a stinger suit.

“People still need to be aware stingers are around and swimmers should be wearing stinger suits.”

Eimeo Beach lifesavers buried the stinger under one metre of sand to eliminate any risk to the public.

Mackay lifeguard Paul Barker said Black's Beach also was closed on Sunday because a swimmer was stung.

“We dragged Black's Beach this (Monday) morning but it is still not open. We'll have to get another clear drag before we re-open it.

“Eimeo Beach will remain closed until the volunteers get there on Saturday and give it the all clear.

“There are still stingers around and people need to know that.

“There hasn't been a lot of wind, which makes for good conditions for stingers, but the wind should pick up later in the week and make for better conditions for swimmers.

“The one at Eimeo Beach was big enough to kill anyone. Once a box jellyfish gets over the size of a fist it's very dangerous to anyone.”