Gelatinous horde of red stinging jellyfish washes into Melbourne beaches

"Swimmers have been advised to steer clear if they see red jellies in the water after a gelatinous horde descended on Melbourne beaches. Thousands of lion's mane jellyfish have washed into the shallows and on to the sand across Port Phillip Bay, from Altona in the west to Blairgowrie on the Mornington Peninsula. The Port Phillip Baykeeper, Neil Blake, said a bloom of that size was a rare event, last seen about four years ago."

"If you can see jellyfish in the shallows, don't swim, a Life Saving Victoria spokesperson advised. Stick to patrolled beaches and always swim between the red and yellow flags. Don't touch jellyfish on the sand as they can still sting. If you're stung, get out of the water and seek help from a lifesaver or lifeguard if present, the spokesperson said. Rinse with seawater, remove any tentacles carefully, use hot water for pain relief, and call 000 if there are any serious symptoms."

Thousands of lion's mane jellyfish washed into Port Phillip Bay from Altona to Blairgowrie, creating rare large-scale strandings last seen about four years ago. Numbers fluctuated with wind and waves and appeared lower than a week earlier when one beach briefly closed. Most jellyfish were about the size of a peach with tentacles reaching up to around a metre, while some can grow much larger. Bayside City Council and Life Saving Victoria warned beachgoers to avoid swimming near visible jellies, not to touch stranded specimens, and to follow first-aid steps and seek help for serious symptoms.

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