Girl stung by deadly jellyfish in Broome
Cable Beach has been closed after a young girl was stung by a potentially deadly irukandji jellyfish.
The girl, who was stung while surfing about 7am, has been taken to Broome Hospital.
The beach will be closed for all members of the public for 24hrs. This is in addition to the vehicle access closure that is still in place because of the significant sand erosion caused by TC Carlos.
The tiny irukandji jellyfish has a bell measuring five to 10 millimetres wide and four tentacles that can be as long as one metre.
People stung by the irukandji jellyfish initially experience a mild sting, followed by severe lower back pain and muscle cramps in their arms, legs, stomach and chest.
The sting causes sweating, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, headaches and palpitations, and has also been known to cause cardiac failure.
Jellyfish experts say irukandji syndrome can last from a few hours to a few days and varies in intensity.
In 2002, two international tourists - a Briton and an American - became the first recorded irukandji fatalities after separate encounters in far north Queensland.
The Shire will advise the public when the beach is re-open for public use.
