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Thursday, January 13, 2022

The Deadly Portuguese Man O' War

As it floats on the surface of the ocean, the Man O' War looks beautiful and harmless but packs a killer sting with its deadly tentacles.

VIDEO HERE  (5:31 minutes)

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15 comments:

  1. hjetsJanuary 13, 2022 at 4:16 PM

    I spent 2 years + in Key West while in the Navy '66-'68. They were all over. You couldn't go to the beach there without seeing them on the sand or in the water. I don't remember ever hearing of any of the guys I knew that got stung. Just lucky, I guess.

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  2. Bright EyesJanuary 13, 2022 at 5:28 PM

    I came close to being stung on Kauai. When they wash up on shore they turn a blue color. They claim if stung to rub the spot with sand. Don't know why maybe it removes a stinger?

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  3. ZombiedawgJanuary 13, 2022 at 6:44 PM

    I was in Spain decades ago and saw my first one. Tentacles metres long. Not to be messed with. Down under we get the sub species "Blue bottle". Way smaller but I've seen beaches covered with them under certain ocean current conditions. Typically rare where I am thankfully. Standard practice in areas they're common is to keep a bottle of vinegar in your car as you can be killed in 10 minutes and hospitals are further away. Sand abrade the tentacles away as a poor alternative.
    There is a tiny species of jellfish about the tip of your little finger found in Qld north Australia that makes the blue bottle look tame. The name escapes me but one man was stung and vomited every minute for 4 hours.
    Just nasty..

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    Replies
    1. Rick TJanuary 13, 2022 at 8:35 PM

      Box jellies.. The divers down there wear full wetsuits or at least full body lycra suits for protection.

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    2. SendariusJanuary 13, 2022 at 9:27 PM

      Would you be thinking of the irukandji jellyfish?

      The result of a sting is severe localised pain, often exacerbated by vigorous attempts by the patient to remove the tentacles, confusion, agitation, unconsciousness with respiratory failure and/or cardiac arrest. Due to the rapidity of onset of symptoms, immediate first-aid is vital and cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be required. Victims often require hospitalisation and serious painkillers and intravenous narcotics.

      Delete
  4. AggieJanuary 13, 2022 at 7:07 PM

    In certain winters they wash up on the Florida Atlantic coast by the thousands. Quite a sight.

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    Replies
    1. Fa Cube ItchesJanuary 14, 2022 at 12:52 AM

      Got hit by one of the bastards when I was a little kid, visiting my grandparents in Stuart. Not a fun day.

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  5. SeditionJanuary 13, 2022 at 7:19 PM

    Got slapped across the face by a single tentacle before I saw the shadow from the surface pouch back in the 80s. I didn't know you could yell "fuck!" that loud underwater.
    Meat tenderizer did help with the pain.

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  6. UnknownJanuary 13, 2022 at 7:22 PM

    Thanks to these critters i found out, that when properly motivated, I can walk on water.One moment I was 40 yards out from the beach, got stung, then I was on the beach. They supplied the proper motivation.

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  7. ScramgravyaintwavyJanuary 13, 2022 at 8:26 PM

    I believe Zombie is referring to the box jellyfish

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  8. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2022 at 8:59 PM

    Box jellyfish.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_jellyfish

    Chutes Magoo

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  9. boronJanuary 13, 2022 at 9:48 PM

    Zombiedawg, are you thinking of the blue-ringed octopus?

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  10. JCJanuary 13, 2022 at 10:29 PM

    Fuckers are wicked. Got maybe 20 foot of the tentacles wrapped around my leg when I was a kid. Went into anaphylactic shock. 4 units adrenaline, pushed, in the ER.

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  11. RickJanuary 14, 2022 at 1:48 AM

    When in the water you are immersed in a 4D environment. Things below, all around and above waiting to kill or immobilize you. Imagine diving and have to avoid the well camouflaged tentacles hanging from above. Furtive movements will only entangle you more. The 4D is time; time, measured in minutes, to neutralize the toxin which will cause immense pain and, if you're most unfortunate, time before your last breath. Yes, people have died fromthe sting of Man o'Wars much in the way that people succumb from bee stings. Growing up in Hawaii I was stung several times, even when I thought I stood off a proper distance. A few tentacles may be quite long even on the smaller specimens. Seeing how you swim head first, its your face which will first feel the sting. Then your arms, belly, legs. Welts on the skin were like badges. If vinegar is not handy your pee will suffice for the time being. The same as for coral cuts.

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  12. steven tompkinsJanuary 14, 2022 at 3:54 PM

    did you know there are freshwater jelly fish? there is a canal about a mile from my house, in ohio, that they have been reported in.

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