BEACH INVASION
BEACHGOERS have been banned from the water at a Spanish resort popular with Brits after deadly jellyfish hospitalised a mother and daughter.
Getares beach in Andalusia is the fourth beach to be closed this summer thanks to swarms of poisonous Portuguese Man O'War invading sandy shores.
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The latest stings bring the number of injured sunseekers to nine, as thousands of British tourists flock to southern Spain for their summer hols.
Last month three beaches were forced to close temporarily in Benidorm's Costa Blanca holiday resort when jellies were spotted lurking in the water.
Sting victims have been left "paralysed with agony" after coming into contact with the Man O'War's tentacles, which can stretch to 100 feet in length.
Cadiz City Council closed the Getares beach and raised the yellow flag on the Victoria, Cortadura, Santa Maria and Caleta beaches to warn bathers of three potentially lethal jellyfish.
Local media reported that a mother and daughter, who have not been named, were left hospitalised after being stung on Victoria beach.
JELL ON EARTH
Today's alert comes after Naomi Mateos, 23, was left hospitalised in the city of Murcia after being stung on popular Puntas de Calnegre beach.
The jellyfish's tentacles wrapped around her arms, back and breasts while the pain left her "wanting to die".
Recalling herself diving into the water, she said: "Only ten metres from the shore, I felt a strong pain in my wrist that went all the way to my back.
"I became paralysed. I could not move and could only scream."
Her friend eventually removed the tentacle with a diving flipper and took was taken to hospital.
She shared the startling images the 'jellyfish' left on her skin all over her upper body on social media.
BENIDORM BEACH BANS
Two weeks ago Benidorm beach chiefs were forced to close a number of beaches after sightings of the jellies.
Monica Gomez, Benidorm’s Councillor for Beaches, confirmed: “Benidorm Town Hall activated a Portuguese Man O’War protocol after two were found off town beaches.
“They were removed by lifeguards.
“As a precautionary measure bathing was banned and the red flag hoisted for an hour at the main Levante and Poniente beaches, and for more than two hours at Mal Pas beach.
Seven people were treated for minor stings caused by the jellyfish-like creatures at Mal Pas beach.
Monica Gomez, Benidorm's Chief Councillor for Beaches
“Seven people were treated for minor stings caused by the jellyfish-like creatures at Mal Pas beach.
“Five were taken to Villajoyosa Hospital, as part of protocol and as a precautionary measure.
“We have acted swiftly and diligently and banned bathing until we were sure there were no more Portuguese Man O’War in the water.”
Swimming was banned and red flags were posted on both Levante and Poniente beaches, but after a boat search failed to spot any more of the creatures the warning was lowered to a yellow level which allows swimming with caution.
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According to statistics from the Tourist Observatory of Cadiz, 351,842 British tourists stayed in the province of Cadiz in 2018 and total of 115,716 tourists of all nationalities stayed in the province's tourist accommodation in May 2019.
The Portuguese Man O'War is not actually a jellyfish but a marine hydrozoan with long tentacles that can deliver a painful sting, venomous and powerful enough to kill fish and, in some cases, humans.
LETHAL STING: What is Portuguese Man o’ War and why are they so dangerous?
The man o’war is not a true jellyfish but a colony made up of small individual animals called polyps that are unable to survive alone.
Portuguese man o' war - also known as the floating terror - have an extremely powerful sting that on rare occasions can kill.
The sea creatures (Physalia physalis) are not true jellyfish but siphonophores.
These are colonies of hydrozoans – lots of tiny marine organisms living together and behaving collectively as one animal.
They get their name from the balloon-like "sail" that floats above the water, which was said to resemble a type of 18th century warship.
Unable to move independently, the creature floats on the surface and is propelled by a balloon-like ‘sail.’
Its tentacles can be more than 30 metres long and they deliver a painful sting causing whip-like red welts on human skin.
Stings are not usually fatal but can provoke an allergic-type reaction in some cases, while urgent medical attention might be needed if a person comes into contact with many tentacles.
Instances where a tentacle becomes wrapped around the victim’s torso are said to cause the most deaths, especially in children.
The polyps can detach from the body of the man o'war and float for several days while remaining venomous.
Brushing against one can lead to an agonising and potentially lethal sting.
A stranded Portuguese man o' war looks a bit like a deflating purple balloon about the size of a Cornish pasty with blue ribbons attached.
They drift on the ocean currents and every year they wash up in their thousands on beaches from Britain to Australia.
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