Over one-hundred swimmers reported being stung by a jellyfish yesterday in the sixy-three degree water at Wallace Sands State Beach in Rye, N.H.
At 2 p.m. emergency crews responded to the incident. Five children were taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital by ambulance. Hospital officials reported no serious injuries.
Robert Royer, an aquarist at the Seacoast Science Center said it was likely a Lion's Mane Jellyfish, a common creature in New England waters that can sting even after it has been killed and broken up.
Victims were treated in the beach bathhouse for stings that felt like bee stings, according to rescue officials.
Park Manager, Ken Loughlin,v who has worked at the beach for thirty years said medical responders feared severe allegic reactions.
The beach was immediately closed after lifeguards spotted this large jellyfish in the water.
"It was as big as a turkey platter. The thing was probably fifty pounds."
Lifeguards removed the dead jellyfish with a pitchfork just before fifty children ran to shore screaming and complaining of stings on their legs.
"I've never seen such a thing," Loughlin said.
Hampstead resident, Alysia Bennet took her three children to the beach Wednesday. Before she new it, all three of her children came running from the water crying.
"They were terrified," Bennet said.
According to Royer, it was the largest jellyfish in the area. He had never heard of them reaching fifty pounds in the past. The Lion's Mane Jellyfish have barbed tentacles up to one-hundred feet long.
Towns that responded to the emergency include Stratham, Porsmouth, Greenland, New Hampton, Newington, and Rye.
The beach reopened today.
No comments:
Post a Comment