Beachgoers are being urged to be careful amid a string of reports of people getting stung by tiny fish with venomous spines. Weever fish spend most of their lives buried in the sand, but when disturbed, they shoot up their black dorsal fin in defence, injecting a painful venom into whichever unfortunate soul has stood on them.
Coastguards have issued a safety warning after 11 people on one Gwynedd beach alone, Black Rock Sands, are believed to have trodden on weever fish while enjoying a day at the seaside. There have also been a flurry of reports of other injuries on beaches near Abersoch and Llanbedrog, and another at Tywyn in south Gwynedd, while a visitor to Shell Island, near Llanbedr in Gwynedd was also stung.
While Moelfre Coastguard said the reports were nothing to be alarmed about, they said beachgoers should wear some type of footwear to protect themselves from a potentially very painful injury. According to The Wildlife Trusts, there are two species of weever fish - lesser and great - that can be found in British waters.
The fish, described as having a deep yellow body and a "grumpy" mouth, has a black dorsal fin that contains venom, along with spines on its gill covers. The weever fish can be up to 15cm in length and they can be found all over Britain, but are most common in the south and south west.
If you are stung by a weever fish, the advice is to place the affected body part in as hot water as you can bear, as quickly as possible. After 15 minutes or so, the pain should ease.
The creatures bury themselves just under the sand, leaving poisonous dorsal spines sticking out for the unwary. Wild Swim Wales claims the pain they deliver can be “as bad as childbirth”.
The recent reports have prompted beachgoers to share their experiences of being stung. One holidaymaker said her daughter was given first aid on Tywyn beach last week after she twice trod on a weever fish.
Writing on Facebook, she said: “Her screaming was unbearable and the beach wardens said grown men scream exactly like that! Literally watched loads of poison bubbles popping up all around the two areas stung.
“It also paralysed her big toe! Had to rush her down to get first aid, which was to immerse her foot in boiling/as close to boiling water as she could take for half an hour to draw the venom out.”
A woman who was stung near Abergele, Conwy, a few years ago said it was the worst pain she’d ever experienced. “My foot went twice its size,” she added.
A weever fish victim in Borth, Ceredigion, was also left in agony. “Never felt so much pain,” she said. “Would rather have had another baby.”
An 11-year-boy needed beach first aid after getting spiked in Barmouth two years ago. His mum said: “His toes went numb first then the pain started, he passed out and was shaking with the pain.
“The lifeguards carried him to their hut where they put his foot in a bowl and slowly added boiling water out of kettle to as hot he could stand. Pain eventually eased off. He is 13 now and will always wear sliders in the sea.”
Weever fish are present on beaches around the UK and on the Continent too. They can be found half-buried in sand all year round but sting reports peak during the summer as beaches become busier.
Despite the recent wave of reports, weever fish stings are relatively rare. A boy stung on a beach at Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, this week was said to be the first victim there this year.
His mum said: “It did hurt him (but) he was super brave. The lifeguards said they’ve seen adults reduced to tears because the pain is so bad. It looked like he’d just stood on glass and had a prick mark, it’s only when his foot started swelling that I knew it was something else.”
The amount of pain they inflict is not the same for everyone, and knowing what to do will ease the degree of discomfort. Holidaymakers on Shell Island acted quickly last week after a 12-year-old boy was stung.
“We just put hot flannel on it for about an hour and gave him 2 paracetamol,” said his grandmother. “He was fine in 3 hours and promised not to go in the sea without Crocs again. It’s not put him off, I’m pleased to say.”
A mum reported a similar experience on a beach near Porthmadog last week when her little girl trod on a weever fish. “Luckily enough I knew what to do and she wasn't in too much pain for long,” she said.
Only if the victim has underlying conditions can things deteriorate. In 2016, a 64-year old fisherman from Wrexham suffered a severe reaction and was airlifted to hospital after being stung at Trefor, Gwynedd.
What to do if you get stung
Moelfre Coastguard suggested beachgoers invest in some type of sea shoes, or just use old trainers. If you do get stung, and you’re on a lifeguarded beach, it’s best to seek their help.
A spokesperson said: “Treatment for stings is hot water immersion at the highest temperature that is safe to do so – and keep topping up with hot water. Please take care, do not pour boiling water directly onto the skin!
“Pain should start to ease but painkillers are advised. The worst of the pain will start 30 minutes after and will gradually start to subside. Symptoms include swelling, itching, numbness.”
For the pain, take paracetamol, along with antihistamine if you react. If the reaction looks serious, contact your GP or visit the hospital. Worst-case symptoms include severe swelling and bleeding, chest pain and difficulty breathing.
If you have tweezers to hand, use them to remove barbs. Otherwise, use a credit or debit card to push barbs from the skin.
As dogs must go bare-pawed, the only way to remove risk is to keep them off beaches. However the risk is low: thousands of dogs are walked on beaches every day without any problems. If they are stung, a visit to the vet may be in order to ensure all barbs are completely removed.
