Jellyfish attack on Penang beach

Public notice: Visitors to the Batu Ferringhi beach reading a warning sign. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: A beach holiday for a family at Batu Ferringhi in Penang ended with two brothers being hospitalised for jellyfish stings.

The siblings, aged 13 and 16, suffered breathing difficulties and chest pains, said their mother Rindu Rahayu Abdul Rahman.“They were in excruciating pain and their oxygen levels dropped,” she said.

Rindu was relieved that her children’s condition improved after spending a night at the hospital.

The family, from Simpang Empat on the mainland, was on a vacation.

Rindu said that the teenagers were playing along the shore when the incident took place on Thursday.

“Suddenly, they screamed in agony. We saw jellyfish tentacles stuck to their arms and hands.

“The beach boys came to help and sprayed vinegar on the affected areas,” she said, referring to the operators of the water activities.

Her sons were rushed to a clinic where the doctor applied gel to the swelling. He then advised the family to go to the hospital.

Dr Jason Khor, who treated the boys, said that in most cases, patients develop swelling and breathing difficulties within the first few hours of being stung.

“We will treat them with steroids to bring down the inflammation and provide supportive care,” he said, adding the pain on the stung areas would stay for around five days.

The communications director of a hotel, Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman, noticed a surge in jellyfish and an increase in cases of tourists being stung recently.

He stated that notices have been placed to warn the general public and tourists.