Swimming in Australia: the hazards

Sankari · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:18

The family of a girl who nearly died from a box jellyfish sting say the nearby campers who poured vinegar over her saved her life.

Rachel Shardlow, 10, was tangled in the jellyfish tentacles while swimming with her 12-year-old brother Sam in the Calliope River in central Queensland. She lost her vision as she struggled to get out of the water.

"It was hurting a lot and I didn't think I was going to make it either," Sam said. "She was saying 'I can't see, I can't breathe'. She's going 'get this thing off me' and said 'am I going to die?'"

Rachel then collapsed on the riverbank unconscious. Quick-thinking nearby campers doused her in vinegar to stop more venom entering her system.

Her father, who does not want to be identified, said it was horrific.

"It was like someone had thrown purple paint all over her legs. Crazy paint, everywhere," he said.

Rachel's mother drove her to meet paramedics near the remote campsite. But her heart stopped on the way and her father had to perform CPR.

"I noticed Rachel wasn't breathing anymore and she was turning blue. That's when I started CPR," he said.

A box jellyfish can kill an adult in less than four minutes.

[...]

Marine biologists are shocked the venomous sea creature was so far from the ocean, with the river 20 kilometres away.

(Source).

Here is a photo of Rachel's leg after the jellyfish had finished with it:

jp_bl_68 · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:21

Incredibly lucky and she got some cool scars out of the ordeal.

Clum · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:23

I'd rather take my chances in the Australian seas/rivers than in some urban areas of the UK tbh.

chrism · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:23

wow it does'nt look real

Nick1881 · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:24

Very lucky, I thought there was no chance of surviving a tangle with a box jellyfish.

jp_bl_68 · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:24

Clum said:
I'd rather take my chances in the Australian seas/rivers than in some urban areas of the UK tbh.

Really?

Sankari · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:26

With scars like that, she can probably get a part in Saw VII.

Clum · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:26

jp_bl_68 said:
Really?

Absolutely. how many shark/jellyfish/croc attacks have there been in the last year? More than there have been stabbings in Mnachester/London?

I doubt it.

Sankari · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:28

^^ And don't forget the recent wave of bottom-sniffings in Plymouth.

Freefaller · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:28

Will those scars heal at all? They look almost like a tattoo! Poor girl

Does it effectively give you burns? Or just creates a reaction on the skin?

[TW]Fox · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:30

Every time I went anywhere near a Box Jellyfish area it was heavily signposted. It's pretty much impossible NOT to know the risks surely?

Zip · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:31

Good thing i live in SA then

Just dont swim in the Metro waters, Sharks like to live there and eat people it seems

JBuk · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:32

[TW]Fox;15583006 said:
Every time I went anywhere near a Box Jellyfish area it was heavily signposted. It's pretty much impossible NOT to know the risks surely?

I'm not sure the jellyfish always know where they are meant to be swimming

semi-pro waster · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:32

Nasty looking injuries, at least the other campers knew what to do.

From the title of the thread I thought the obvious response was "everything" - it's just not a naturally hospitable country with what seems like everything trying to do you in - the animals, the climate, the environment seem to spend most of their time doing their level best to kill you. Saying that I do want to go there at least once in my life but I'll probably take winter time so at least the heat shouldn't be too oppressive.

tom_e · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:33

[TW]Fox;15583006 said:
Every time I went anywhere near a Box Jellyfish area it was heavily signposted. It's pretty much impossible NOT to know the risks surely?

Not when their 20km inland which isnt normal by the sounds of it

Zip · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:33

[TW]Fox;15583006 said:
Every time I went anywhere near a Box Jellyfish area it was heavily signposted. It's pretty much impossible NOT to know the risks surely?

What would have happend is the thing had made its way down a river that probably never has had any problem with them before.

Sharks manage to get deep into the rivers of NSW that lead into sydney harbor.
You just dont expect them to be there that far from the sea

Sankari · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:47

Freefaller said:
Will those scars heal at all? They look almost like a tattoo! Poor girl

She will have those scars for a very long time; her wounds were so bad that the doctors were considering skin grafts. Box jellyfish venom can leave permanent scarring from necrosis, and there is no known method of reducing the damage without some form of surgery.

Does it effectively give you burns? Or just creates a reaction on the skin?

Box jellyfish venom is the most powerful in the entire animal kingdom. It creates a reaction on the skin, beneath the skin and within the bloodstream. Skin damage is the least of your worries; your primary concern should be cardiac arrest and respiratory failure.

Sankari · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:49

semi-pro waster said:
Saying that I do want to go there at least once in my life but I'll probably take winter time so at least the heat shouldn't be too oppressive.

I suggest you visit in winter. Right now it's 22:20 here in Adelaide, and the temperature outside is 38°C.

:eek:

Maccy · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:52

Ouch, those jellyfish remind me of the film Seven Pounds.

Zip · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:56

Evangelion said:
I suggest you visit in winter. Right now it's 22:20 here in Adelaide, and the temperature outside is 38°C.

You forgot to mention this part....

Its as humid as **** too!

LET IT RAIN ALREADY!!!