Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Environment
Neve Brissenden

Stranded fishermen stung by lethal box jellyfish

Two fisherman were rescued after being stung by Irukandji jellyfish on the Northern Territory coast. (HANDOUT/SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM)

A pair of fishermen have been discharged from hospital days after being stung by potentially lethal jellyfish off the Northern Territory coastline.

The pair were on Tuesday fishing from a boat 20km off Dundee Beach, 135km west of Darwin, when they ran into trouble.

The CareFlight NT rescue helicopter was called after reports that one patient was suffering severe Irukandji jellyfish stings.

On arrival, the nurse winched down to the boat and determined both men needed medical care.

The nurse stayed on the boat and the chopper landed on the beach and enlisted a local fishing charter to bring the CareFlight doctor to the boat.

The fishermen were retrieved from the boat and brought back to shore.

They were then airlifted to Royal Darwin Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

NT Health confirmed the pair had been discharged from hospital on Thursday, 48 hours after being stung.

The Irukandji jellyfish is the smallest and most venomous species of box jellyfish in the world.

There have been two confirmed Irukandji deaths in Australia.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.