Jellyfish stings man

By Bridget Cook
THE City of Casey will investigate erecting warning signs at Tooradin Foreshore after a man was left in excruciating pain after being stung by a box jellyfish.
Devon Meadows resident Tony Jenner was swimming at the Tooradin jetty about three weeks ago when he spotted the jellyfish.
He was lying down in waist-deep water, when he said he saw the jellyfish with tentacles about eight to 10 feet long.
Mr Jenner said the jellyfish stung him across his arm, shoulder and chest and before long he was in excruciating pain, which lasted about a week.
Mr Jenner has now called on the council to investigate the issue and help warn others that are about.
“There are kids that swim there,” he said.
“If a child got bitten, it could be a disaster.
“They reckon there are not many in the bay, but it’s still a worry.
“I would like to see signage put there if possible.”
City of Casey councillor Geoff Ablett raised a notice of motion at Tuesday night’s council meeting for council officers investigate the incident.
“He (Mr Jenner) said there were kids swimming near him and if it was them he believed they would have died,” he said.
“Signs need to be put up to warn people that they are in the bay.”
Cr Ablett said while many believed box jellyfish only existed in New South Wales and Queensland waters, he had been told by experts that they are now in Westernport Bay and Port Phillip also.
A report on the incident and the possible need for any warning signs to be erected at Tooradin, and other areas around Westernport Bay and Port Phillip Bay will come back to a council meeting at a later date.