A warning has been issued to anyone who spots tiny fish on West Country beaches. Weever fish, a colourful fish that can grow up to 30cm in length, are found in coastal waters all around the UK and spend most of their time living in the sand.
And now Looe RNLI has shared tips on what to do if you are stung by one. Symptoms of a weever fish sting can include a headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, reports Cornwall Live.
If you are stung, it's advised that you remove the spines and squeeze the wound to wash out the venom. You should also immerse the area in hot water for around 30-minutes.
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One mum who fell victim to a weever fish sting previously urged beachgoers to wear shoes in the water after she was left in such "excruciating pain" that she would rather have given birth again.
Ceri Durrant was returning to shore after a dip in the sea at Pentewan Beach while holidaying with family in St Austell, Cornwall, when she stepped on the tiny but venomous critter buried in the sand.
Unable to put any weight on her foot, the mum-of-three was warned by a local that the weever fish, which can grow to around 30cm long and is known to frequent British waters, was a likely culprit.
Just minutes after returning to the sand the tiny sting began to cause excruciating pain as the wound turned purple and began to seep blood.
She said: "The pain was really, really intense, and I guess that's because of the venom that, when you move your foot, spreads that little bit more.
"I've been stung by a wasp before, that was painful but nothing in comparison to [this]. I did say that I'd rather be in labour with one of my kids again.
"At least I would have had something nice at the end of it."
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