Over 100 people were stung by a giant dead lion’s mane jellyfish ant Wallis Sands State Beach today causing officials to close the beach and remove the jellyfish.
The stings were reported to have felt like bee stings. Even with the high numbers of stings hospital officials reported no serious injuries. All but five of the victims were treated in the bathhouse.
Alysia Bennett a resident of Hampstead, N.H. Her three children came running out of the water simultaneously crying due to the stings.
Alysia Bennett stated, “They were terrified.”
Robert Royer an aquarist at the Seacoast Science Center said, “That’s the largest we have around here. I’ve never heard of them getting 50 pounds, though.” He also said that these jellyfish are more common in New England than else were.
The jellyfish have tentacles of up to 100 feet long with barbs attached, and they can still sting even after being killed.
After the beach had closed lifeguards used a pitchfork to remove the giant jellyfish from the waters. “It was as big as a turkey platter,” said Ken Loughilin the manager of the park. Who has worked there for 30 years.
The temperature that day was in the low 70’s with a water temperature of 63 degrees.
