British beachgoers have been issued a warning after a number of Portuguese man o' war washed up on the UK coast. The creatures, known for their massive size and painful sting, have been spotted on beaches in Cornwall and Wales.
Several sightings were reported on Cornish beaches including Sennen, Crantock and Longrock, with one described as a 'monster'. The animals, which can grow up to 20 metres long, are usually found in tropical waters but have increasingly been seen near British shores.
Amanda Duffin told CornwallLive she spotted 'massive ones' on Longrock beach near Penzance, warning dog walkers to beware. The NCI St Ives shared a photo on Facebook advising people to be wary if going into the sea as more could be heading up the coastline.
Portuguese man o' war are not jellyfish but a rarer creature known as a 'zooid'. They cannot swim and are carried by currents and winds, often washing up after storms. They have a distinctive purple float, blue-purple tentacles and a pink-tipped crest, and can appear translucent when washed ashore.
Matt Slater, Marine Conservation Officer for Cornwall Wildlife Trust, advised swimmers to avoid them where possible. If stung, he recommended washing the area with sea water, scraping away tentacles with a credit card, applying hot water and seeking medical advice.
A separate warning was issued in Wales after strange creatures were seen on Porth Trecastell beach near Caernarfon. Rhosneigr Coastguard advised the public and dog owners to avoid touching them due to their extremely painful sting, even when dead.
