Popular tourist beach closed after Irukandji jellyfish sting
One of Western Australia’s biggest tourist attractions, Cable Beach in Broome, was closed on Wednesday after a female was stung by a potentially deadly Irukandji jellyfish.
The woman made her own way to Broome Hospital after the sting, The Broome Advertiser reports.
A spokesperson from the WA Country Health Service said the victim was still being treated in Broome Hospital and was in a stable condition.
Shire of Broome rangers have cleared the water from Cable Beach to Gantheaume Point and erected warning signs along the popular swimming beach.
Surf Life Saving WA said the beach would remain closed for 24 hours.
About 10 people are stung by Irukandji jellyfish in the Broome area each year, The ABC reports.
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The latest sting comes weeks after 14-year-old Hannah Mitchell was left fighting for life after a sting whilst swimming off the Pilbara coast on Easter Sunday.
Irukandji are tiny but potentially deadly, with the venom from a sting causing symptoms including muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, severe headaches and a burning sensation.
The jellyfish is generally found in the northern waters of Australia, but research shows that the population is beginning to move south, a migration environmental scientists are attributing to climate change.