(Update on 20 July 2020, 9:04am: Sentosa Development Corporation has provided us with more information pertaining to this incident)
As soon as Phase 2 came along, residents rushed to beaches across the country and frantically leapt into the sea as if they were being chased by a swarm of bees.
Then, swimmers at Sentosa heard that a few jellyfish knew about Phase 2 as well and were having a swim there too, they jumped out just as frantically.
Yes, while there are many scary creatures out there, nothing is as terrifying as the jellyfish, the only creature in the world that can make you voluntarily pee on another person.
After several reported sightings in the last few weeks, the jellyfish appears to have claimed its first victim.
Girl Stung By Box Jellyfish In Sentosa
A child has reportedly been stung by a venomous box jellyfish in the waters off Sentosa on Friday (17 July).
In a Facebook post, one Sentosa resident shared a picture of the offending jellyfish as well as a video which showed blisters and red lines on the child’s leg.
The resident wrote:
“Hi my daughter was paddling in shallow water near FOC yesterday where she was stung on the leg quite badly by a box jellyfish. I’ve attached photos of the jelly and of her leg. We are treating it and a lot of the information below is relevant. Please take precautions on the weekend with your children around Sentosa waters”.
“FOC” refers to “FOC Sentosa”, an eatery located at Tanjong Beach Walk.
The parent of the girl said they had to rush home to apply vinegar on her legs and hands because the lifeguards on duty didn’t have any.
(Update: SDC had contacted the guest, who clarified with that she did not approach the Beach Patrol Officers, and instead meant it as a suggestion when she said, “It would be an idea for the lifeguards there to have vinegar handy.” In addition, the Beach Patrol Officers do have vinegar on hand.)
They lived 10 minutes away.
Fortunately, the girl appears to have recovered from the stings.
“She’s dealt with it very well thank you. We just need to make sure those blisters don’t get infected. It would be an idea for the life guards there to have vinegar handy. We rushed her home (we live on Sentosa so very close) and got vinegar to her legs and hand within 10 minutes which helped a lot,” the resident said.
Public Advised To Avoid Swimming in Sentosa
There have been several sightings of box jellyfish in Singapore waters in the last few weeks.
On 2 July, Facebook page Marine Stewards posted a video on Facebook of a box jellyfish swimming in waters off Sentosa.
NParks was informed of the sightings and advised swimmers to steer clear of Sentosa waters for the next two weeks.
That was two weeks ago.
This recent stinging means that jellyfish are still floating around Sentosa waters, so it’d be a good idea to have a swim elsewhere if you’re dying for one.
If you’re waiting for it to die naturally instead, it’s actually feasible: box jellyfish usually don’t have a long lifespan, and for those in the ocean, they can only live for about three months or so.
And they might look small and cute, but these little guys pack quite a punch.
According to National Geographic, the box jellyfish developed an incredibly powerful venom to instantly stun or kill prey, so their struggle to escape wouldn’t damage its tentacles.
Thanks, evolution.
Their venom is considered to be one of the most deadly in the world, as it contains toxins that attack the heart.
People who’ve been stung by these creatures have been known to suffer:
- severe hypertension
- extreme lower back pain
- nausea
- cardiac and respiratory arrest
Their stings are also excruciatingly painful.
In some places, when there’s a peak in the number of box jellyfish on a beach, lifeguards would close the “infested beaches” until the number subsides.
The only solution against it, if you still insist on swimming in Sentosa, is to wear pantyhose, full body lycra suits, dive skins or wetsuits. Not exactly best for Instagram but it’ll save your life.
Does Peeing on it Actually Help?
Understandably, this is one of those awkward questions that you’re only comfortable to ask on the internet.
Well, the answer is no.
Numerous studies have found that there is no truth to the myth that urine can relieve the pain of jellyfish stings.
One possible reason that pee is often touted as a solution is because urine contains compounds like ammonia and urea, which may be helpful for some stings.
The problem is that your pee contains a lot of a water, which dilutes these substances.
So, what should you do instead?
If stung by a box jellyfish, you should:
- Wash the area with seawater or vinegar
- Avoid rubbing the wound
Do not attempt to remove the tentacles yourself and seek medical attention immediately.
If you spot a jellyfish in Singapore, whether it’s in the sea or on the MRT, please call NParks at 1800-471-7300.
Eh, correction: don’t call NParks when you see a jellyfish in the MRT. Because while box jellyfish are venomous, other jellyfish are considered goody food:
No wonder they’re angry.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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