Giant jellyfish washes up on New Brighton beach

Sightings of jellyfish have been reported up and down the country recently with many being spotted along Wirral’s coastline.

This weekend, giant jellyfish were found washed up on New Brighton beach which attracted the attention of visitors. Some are estimated to be one metre in width and have a diameter the size of a dustbin lid.

Giant jellyfish were spotted on New Brighton beach (Image: Facebook)

Jellyfish will often wash up on beaches as they underestimate the strength of the tides and waves, leading to people spotting them on the sand. They don’t purposely attack humans and most stings occur when people accidentally touch them.

Rebecca Bowman, from Aigburth in Liverpool, visited the beach on Monday with two of her children and was amazed by the size of a jellyfish she saw.

"It was bloody massive," she said. "It was definitely the biggest I've ever seen on a British beach.

"Lifeguards coned off the area around it and warned people to stay away. I heard one woman describe it as looking like an alien."

One passerby took a snap of it and uploaded it to social media stating: “I’m not sure I fancy swimming in the sea after finding this today!”.

The post was met by hundreds of people stating they had also spotted the tentacled creatures.

One person said: “Saw four massive ones on the sand yesterday and one about that size alive swimming in the water where the kite surfers were down by Derby Pool.”

Sightings of jellyfish have been reported up and down the country recently with many being spotted along Wirral’s coastline (Image: Facebook)

Another person said: “We found this one on the beach today too we changed our minds and didn’t go in the sea.”

A third person said: “They were all there yesterday morning at 6.30am when I was walking along from New Brighton to the ferry pub bit.”

Another person posted: “Apparently, they grow to the size of bin lids. Loving those purple tentacles.”

Jellyfish will often wash up on beaches as they underestimate the strength of the tides and waves, leading to people spotting them on the sand (Image: Facebook)

Another person commented: “I remember ever since I was little seeing these washed up on the beach. We used to see some absolutely huge ones.”

Another person said: “They were down on West Kirby beach as well one of my friends put it up today, such a shame. Hate to see the sea life dying. The starfish were heartbreaking. I saved loads that still had a little life I carried them in my hoodie to the pools up by the rocks, but unfortunately, hundreds had died.”

Another person added: “I know they are everywhere. Two of my granddaughters got stung! Not a good experience.”