Jellyfishes are extremely deadly even though they look like mere plastic bags. Their tentacles are armed with nematocysts and touching them will inject venom into your system.
Although some jellyfishes’ venom causes mere discomfort, others can cause extreme pain and even death.
Unfortunately for 60-year-old Sohrabi Saeed, a Swedish tourist, he met his maker after being stung at about 3.15pm on 27th June, 2018 at Tanjung Rhu beach.
Source: NST
Langkawi’s police chief, Superintendent Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim, told the press,
“Police personnel at the Ayer Hangat police station, who received a report on the incident, rushed to the scene to conduct an initial investigation.
“The body was later sent to the Langkawi Hospital for a post-mortem.”
It is unclear whether he was stung while in the water or the jellyfish was washed ashore. Regardless, it is important that we be more careful of our surroundings.
In case you were stung by a jellyfish, here are a few first-aid steps you can use:
- Rinse the area with vinegar for at least 30 seconds.
- Remove tentacles with a pair of tweezers.
- After you remove the tentacles, soak the affected area in hot water (40-45 C) for at least 20 minutes. If you don’t have a thermometer, make sure the water is hot but not scalding. A hot shower is OK if that’s easier than soaking. Stay in the water for 20 to 45 minutes.
- These treatments are based on research done in the Indo-Pacific areas and may not work for all stings.
However, if the sting covers more than half an arm or leg, is from a box jellyfish, or the affected person has a severe allergic reaction, immediately call the ambulance.
