...and this just in from Australia...

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

I am sorry Aaron that I'd flush down the toilet... praying it doesn't crawl back up and eat me in my sleep.

Harrison, as deadly as they are, I'd just kill it.

 

[Maestro]

Harrison, as deadly as they are, I'd just kill it.

With what ? A 12 gauge ?

 

[Wildcat]

And just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water.....

Bluebottles striking surfers
Sarah Crawford Owen Jacques | 9th January 2010

IF you are heading to the beach today be sure to pack the Stingose.

Easterly winds have been blowing bluebottles into shore, stinging scores of people on Thursday and yesterday, and may bring more jellyfish today.

Council's southern lifeguard supervisor Mick Taplin said 70 people were stung at Kings Beach on Thursday and 80 people were stung by midday yesterday. However, it was not clear if all stings were caused by bluebottles.

Four children were yesterday taken by ambulance to Caloundra Hospital as a precaution after complaining of feeling "generally unwell" after the stings, including a girl, 12, who had been stung across the neck, according to an emergency services spokesperson.

One of those swimmers who received a nasty surprise in the water yesterday was Finn Delpaul, 7, of Ipswich, who sported a distinctive red welt with raised circles on her forearm.

But her mother, Georgina Delpaul, was not fazed.

"I think they are just part of the life here. You are wary of them but I wouldn't keep the kids away," she said.

Mr Taplin said the numerous stings yesterday were not enough to close the beach.

"If there were 1000 people and half were being stung we would close the beach," he said. "People need to take notice of the bluebottle signs, heed the PA warnings or see bluebottles on the tidemarks, and decide if they would like to take that chance."

If you are stung

GO to the nearest lifeguard tower

WASH the area with freshwater and gently pull off tentacles without rubbing them.

APPLY ice to numb the area.

IF concerned or experiencing a reaction, including lumps around the groin or underarm, seek further medical attention.

Bluebottles striking surfers | Sunshine Coast News | Local News in Sunshine Coast | The Sunshine Coast Daily

Man stung by deadly irukandji
11th January 2010
A FILIPINO fisherman suffered a severe irukandji sting after a wavecarrying the jellyfish splashed in his face, despite being 25m abovesea level on the weekend.

The 45-year-old was aboard theSingaporean registered bulk carrier Konmax, at Abbot Point, north ofBowen, on Sunday when the freak accident occurred.

The RACQ – CQRescue was tasked to the carrier with reports a crew member wassuffering extreme pain and in a distressed, agitated state.

Itwas the third mission for the Rescue service that day and the secondone to Abbot Point and described as a "fascinating task".

TheRescue helicopter landed on the ship at 6pm and the intensive careparamedic administered pain relief immediately in an effort tostabilise the patient.

A spokesperson said up until thispoint, communication had been a problem due to the language barrierbetween patient and rescue crews.

The Filipino patient was able to convey he had been fishing from the ship when he was splashed in the face with sea water.

ParamedicBrad Watson said he remembered a similar incidence in Broome, WesternAustralia where a fisherman was stung by a jellyfish when reeling inhis line.

He said the symptoms of this patient were identical to those of an irukandji sting.

The Filipino man was treated immediately for the sting which stabilised the patient for transfer to Mackay Base Hospital.

There it was confirmed he had suffered an irukandji sting.

RACQ – CQ RESCUE air crewman Geoff Abrahams said this is one of the most "fascinating tasks I've worked on".

"Realistically,what are the chances of being stung by a jellyfish when you are safelyon board a bulk carrier 25 metres above the water? It's reallyincredible."

The CQ Rescue also retrieved a New South Welshman from Long Island on Saturday suffering the affects of a jellyfish sting.

http://www.whitsundaytimes.com.au/story/2010/01/11/man-stung-near-long-island/

 

[Wayne Little]

With what ? A 12 gauge ?

Nah...Nuke it!..only way to be sure!!

 

[RabidAlien]

Nah...Nuke it!..only way to be sure!!

 

[Heinz]

No half measures in Oz as you can see fellas.

 

[phatzo]

I remember an old Billy Connelly skit from years ago when he talked about his first visit to Australia, he mentioned all of these things but the funniest was the funnel web spider. Don't worry mate, it wont harm ya if ya don't annoy it. "Who would that fkn bored, Oh theres a fkn great spider, I might go annoy it."

 

[phatzo]

Nah, they're for real....

honest.....

Beyond The Fringe Blog Archive The Dreaded Drop Bears of Oz

thats only a small one

 

[GrauGeist]

Dunno about those funnel spiders...they look alot like our Tarantulas...that I can deal with...

But this sh!t is a whole different matter entirely...now this is where I draw the freakin' line...seriously...

Taken from the Creepy Crawly thread: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/personal-gallery/creepy-crawly-thread-20859-9.html#post587292