Latest news with #weeverfish
BreakingNews.ie
09-07-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Warnings issued over painful weever fish as weather improves
The National Poisons Information Centre of Ireland has issued a warning over the dangers of weever fish around the coast. There have already been dozens of reports of bathers being stung by the dangerous tiny fish from beaches up and down the country. Advertisement With the weather expected to get better in the coming days, more and more people will flock to the coastline. The tiny fish have sharp spines containing venom on their dorsal fin. They are found all parts of the Irish coast but only in sandy areas, usually in warm shallow waters in the hour before and after low tide. Unlike most fish, they have no swim bladder, meaning that they sink to the bottom as soon as they stop swimming. Advertisement They are, therefore, difficult to see because they spend most of their time buried under the sand. Standing on a weever fish results in immediate intense, burning pain with the most intense pain coming in the first two hours. The painful sting can also result in swelling, numbness and warmth. The NPIC this week issued a warning to people to beware of the tiny predator and were inundated with comments from people across the country telling of their frightening experiences. Advertisement Therese Kavanagh revealed "Stood on one of these in Kilmuckridge in Wexford a few year back oh good Jesus the pain is awful, I'd never heard of weaver fish at the time but thankfully my neighbour did and knew exactly what to do when she seen my foot. "Put swim shoes or crocs on the kids going in the water and don't let kids sit at the shoreline/ shallow water this is where they are found most" Robert Alan said "Stepped on one of these on Achill Island and it's not fun! Thankfully the lifeguards knew what it was straight away and stuck the kettle on." Ross Stewart said "It's agony. Get spiked at ten years old at Brittas Bay. Will never forget the pain." Advertisement The NPIC has issued a list of guidelines for people to follow if they are stung by the tiny pest. People should: * Seek assistance from a lifeguard, if available. * Submerge the affected limb or wound in hot water, as hot as can be tolerated for up to 90 minutes or until pain is easing. * As the sting can result in numbness, immerse the unaffected limb too, as this may prevent inadvertent scalding. * Cold applications may worsen the discomfort. * Paracetamol can be considered to relieve pain. Care should be taken when pain relief is given that thermal burns do not occur due to the effects of the pain killer masking the temperature of the water used. * The puncture site should be examined and embedded spines removed. * Seek medical attention from a doctor as a tetanus and/or antibiotics may be required. * Call the NPIC on 01 8092166 if you stand on a weever fish.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Mum shares urgent warning for summer beach trips with kids as pal's left in hospital following massive allergic reaction
A MUM has shared an urgent warning for summer days at the beach after a friend's near-death experience. Danielle explained that between June and September there are aquatic animals called weever fish, which camouflage themselves in the sand and sea. 3 3 3 They can even "survive for quite a long time" hiding on the beach, but if you step on it with bare feet you'll end up being stung. Danielle - aka The Enchanted Nanny - said that her best friend's brother had found out the hard way about the potentially deadly fish when he stepped on one, and suffered a massive allergic reaction. "He's trodden on it in bare feet, and usually that would cause quite a hefty sting, where you would need to put the hottest water possible on the area to stop the venom from spreading and stinging," she said in a video on her TikTok page. "But he didn't even get that far because he had a massive allergic reaction, which has landed him straight in the hospital. "It's been a really, really scary time and a shock to the system." She added that it's vital to wear some kind of shoes when on the sand near the sea, so that if you did accidentally tread on a weever fish, you wouldn't get stung. "They definitely feature very heavily on our UK coastlines," she continued. "If you're going to the beach, wear beach shoes, flip-flops, jelly shoes. "Do not let your children wander around by the sea without shoes on. "It's just not worth the risk." The dangers of hard to spot Weever fish "Spoiler alert - they sting even when no longer alive, the venom is still potent!" one person warned in the comments section. "I got stung by one in Cornwall," another recalled. "It was so painful, the lifeguard hit me to put my foot in the hottest water I could stand." "I was (stung) - it's terrible and was so painful please be careful!" a third wrote. "Crazy that I have been on the beach barefoot every year for 28 years and I have never heard about or seen these until this year," someone else said. "It's important to note it's not just a little sting," another warned. How should you treat a weever fish sting? ACCORDING to Moelfre Coastguard, if you experience an intense reaction such as trouble breathing or heart palpitations after a sting, you should call 999. If your pain is less intense, the sting can be treated with hot water. The higher temperature will destroy the poison as it is protein-based. Use tweezers to remove the spines. And painkillers can also be taken to ease discomfort. "My whole leg ended up paralysed because we didn't know what it was! "Always buy jelly shoes for you and your children!"
The Independent
04-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Beachgoers urged not to walk barefoot on sand or risk poisonous sting
Weever fish, one of the UK's few venomous fish, bury themselves in the sand and inject venom via their dorsal fin when disturbed, posing a risk to UK beachgoers. East Riding of Yorkshire Council is installing warning signs to advise against walking barefoot on beaches during weever season, which begins in June. The Wildlife Trust recommends wearing beach shoes while paddling in sandy waters to avoid stings. The British Marine Life Study Society describes the pain from a weever fish sting as excruciating, with intense pain, redness, and swelling occurring in the first two hours. The Wildlife Trust and NHS advise treating stings by immersing the affected area in hot water and removing any visible spines or tentacles, with painkillers and antihistamines also recommended; ensuring tetanus vaccination is up to date is also advised.
The Independent
04-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Warning issued over return of venomous weever fish lurking under sand on British beaches
UK beachgoers have been warned to watch where they stand as venomous fish could be lurking in the shallows. Weevers are one of the only venomous fish in UK waters. Spending much of their lives buried under the sand, they shoot up their black dorsal fin in defence when disturbed, which injects painful venom into unsuspecting victims. East Riding of Yorkshire Council is in the process of putting up warning signs, urging bathers not to walk barefoot on the sands during weever season, which starts in June when the weather becomes warmer. A spokesperson said: 'We are currently putting up posters on noticeboards and sending out social media messages to warn people about the possible risks of stings from weever fish on our beaches. 'We are urging people to please not walk barefoot on the sands during the weever fish season, just in case.' Weevers can be found near any coastline around the UK, according to the Wildlife Trust. The Trust says on its website that to avoid being stung: 'You should always wear beach shoes when paddling in sandy waters! Always follow the Seashore Code when rockpooling, be careful to leave everything as you found it - replace any rocks you turn over, put back any crabs or fish and ensure not to scrape anything off its rocky home.' British Marine Life Study Society said 'the pain is usually described as excruciating as the spines embed into the human flesh and discharge their venom', according to its website. The pain is at its most intense for the first two hours after contact, when the area can get red and swollen, the society added. The Wildlife Trust advises people who are stung to place the affected body part in 'as hot water as you can bear, as quickly as possible. After 15 minutes or so, the pain should ease.' NHS advice says victims should pour salt water over the affected area, rather than fresh water, and remove any visible tentacles by pulling them out, using tweezers or the edge of a bank card.
