Jellyfish sting girls near Hilbre Island

5:30pm Tuesday 5th August 2008

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TWO girls were picked up by West Kirby lifeboat crew after they were stung by jellyfish on Hilbre Island.

Hilbre Island Park Ranger, David Cavanagh initially dealt with the emergency by using fresh water and vinegar to take away the stings, but contacted emergency services after the girls became distressed.

One of them was having difficulty in breathing and was showing signs of an anaphylactic shock which is caused by an allergic reaction that can be life threatening if not treated immediately. The 12 and ten-year-old were returned to West Kirby slipway where paramedics treated them both at the scene.

The incident happened at 2.30pm on Sunday, they were with their mother and were visiting from Bath, Somerset.

It is thought that the fish may be a species of Lion’s Mane jellyfish which swim around the Wirral coast each year.

The colour can be a vivid yellow, orange or red and it pulsates just beneath the surface of the water. Swimmers need to be aware of the threads which can reach a length of several metres in diameter.

They have a very unpleasant sting which can produce blisters, irritation, muscular cramp and may even affect respiratory and heart function.

Mr Cavanagh added: “This is a very unusual incident.

“Although the jellyfish swim around the Wirral coast this is the first time we have had a sting on Hilbre in ten years as they are not very common.”