Holidaymaker stung by ‘world’s most venomous animal’ that may kill in 5 minutes
Surfer Guy Rowles was rushed to hospital after being attacked by a Box jellyfish. He immediately began shaking and vomiting but was told by doctors it was too late to use the anti-venom
Guy Rowles was rushed to hospital after being stung by a deadly jellyfish(Image: Guy Rowles/Facebook )
A tourist was rushed to hospital after being stung by the ‘world’s most venomous animal‘ that can kill in under five minutes. Guy Rowles, from Australia, was surfing in Fiji when he experienced a severe sting on his arm on the first day of his holiday.
The surfer was in the water with his dad when he tumbled off his board and ripped the Box jellyfish tentacles off him. Guy was staying at Sujees Surf Stay at Cloudbreak, a reef break in the Mamanuca Islands renowned for its waves. He revealed: “All of a sudden something hectic stung my arm. It felt like someone had just poured burning hot oil on me.”
Guy said his arm felt like it was on fire and he began convulsing after being hauled onto the deck of a boat. He was rushed to a hospital in Nadi, over an hour away, reports the Mirror. Recounting the ordeal Guy said: “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.”
Before he was driven from the shore to the hospital, he rang his mother to tell her he loved her. Guy said doctors told him the grave news they would be unable to use anti-venom on him.
Guy revealed: “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.”
Instead doctors used vinegar to neutralise any remaining stinging cells and remove any leftover tentacles from his skin. Guy said: “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.”
The surfer has already returned to the water but admits the shocking experience “definitely puts things into perspective.” Box jellyfish, named for their body shape, have tentacles up to 10 foot long covered in nematocysts, which are tiny harpoons attached to a venom-filled bulb.
They can sting and kill a person in under five minutes and are primarily found in the Indo-Pacific region and northern Australia. Before Guy was stung, Fiji’s government issued a health alert about jellyfish in the water. It stated: “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.
“The Ministry of Health and 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.”
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