An Australian surfer in Fiji was rushed to hospital after he was stung by a box jellyfish, one of the most dangerous marine animals – and cases are on the rise.
Last week, Guy Rowles was visiting Sujees Surf Stay at Cloudbreak, a reef break in the Mamanuca Islands known for being one of the 10 best waves in the world.
On the first day of a surf trip with his father, stung his arm and he rolled off his board before tearing the jellyfish tentacles off him.
“All of a sudden something hectic stung my arm. It felt like someone had just poured burning hot oil on me,’ Mr Rowles told surfing publication Stab on Monday.
Pulled onto a boat with his arm on fire, a tight chest, and convulsing on the deck, he was rushed to a hospital over an hour’s journey away in Nadi.
‘I’m looking at my dad going, “F** Dad, am I going to die?”.
‘I was shaking, vomiting, couldn’t really feel my legs. Tingles everywhere, but as soon as the guy got off the boat, he started sprinting across the coral… A couple of crew came to help and they’re saying, I’m going to pray for you.’
Mr Rowles had phoned his mother to tell her he loved her before he was driven from the shore to the hospital like a scene from a car racing film.
Sydney man Guy Rowles (pictured) was rushed to hospital after he was stung by a box jellyfish in Fiji, one of the most dangerous marine animals
Pictured, Mr Rowles’ forearm with angry red lines from the jellyfish’s tentacles
‘The doctor goes, “It’s too late for antivenom, you’ve missed your window. It’s been in you for an hour.” Yeah, I just had to ride it out, really,’ he said.
The only option left was vinegar and morphine, to douse the area with vinegar to neutralise remaining stinging cells and remove any remaining tentacles from the skin.
Stings like the one covering more than half of one limb are considered life-threatening, but miraculously Mr Rowles survived.
‘They said I was lucky that I didn’t get it on my face or neck. And that if I wasn’t young and healthy, it could’ve gone a lot differently’
On Sunday, he shared photos back on the water surfing, after his lucky recovery and said the experience ‘Definitely puts things into perspective.
Box jellyfish, named after their body shape, have tentacles up to 10ft long covered in nematocysts, which are tiny harpoons attached to a venom-filled bulb.
As a result, it can sting and kill a person in under five minutes.
Mr Rowles is now back in the water
Box jellyfish, named after their body shape, have tentacles up to 10ft long covered in nematocysts, which are tiny harpoons attached to a venom-filled bulb (stock image)
Mr Rowles had phoned his mother to tell her he loved her before he was driven from the shore to the hospital like something out of Fast and the Furious
The species is found in warm coastal waters around the world, but the lethal varieties are found primarily in the Indo-Pacific region and northern Australia.
A week before Mr Rowles was stung, Fiji’s government released a health alert about the presence of the jellyfish in the water.
‘The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, with the Ministry of Fisheries, are urging Fijians to take precautionary measures when out at sea with the presence of Box Jellyfish – a poisonous and venomous jellyfish,’ it said.
‘The Ministry of Health & Medical Services is concerned after a number of patients have been presented to the Ministry’s Hyperbaric Unit with breathing problems after being out at sea.
‘Members of the public are urged to take proper heed of this advisory and to visit their nearest healthcare facility should they have any signs and symptoms.’
The health ministry noted the symptoms can include severe burning pain, tentacle marks, difficulty breathing and collapsing.
However, there are some precautionary measures that surfers and swimmers can take.
People should wear protective clothing, such as a full body Lycra or neoprene suit that covers 75 to 80 per cent of the body.
The Fiji government said it is key to look out for local warnings and avoid swimming or diving at dawn or dusk when the jellyfish are present in significant numbers.
In the event of an injury, a victim should be removed from the water and the relevant authorities alerted.
