What caused this healthy teen to suffer a heart attack?

Queensland boy suffered a heart attack after a trip to the beach went wrong.

9 News report the teenager went into cardiac arrest after being stung by a box jellyfish on Cape York.

The boy, 13, was stung at Bamaga on Saturday morning and later went into cardiac arrest.

The ambulance service told AAP the boy was taken to the Bamaga hospital and flown to Townsville where he is recovering under specialist care.

140410-jellyfish

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has previously stated:

“Box Jellyfish stings are serious and potentially fatal, so it’s important that we treat them appropriately,” she said.

Advice for the treatment of Box Jellyfish stings –
•Call for help – dial 000 for an ambulance
•Administer CPR if required
•Pour vinegar over the sting
•Wait for medical aid to arrive

“As always, we would urge people use caution when swimming in areas that are a known habitat to Box Jellyfish. Normally, Box Jellyfish are found in the shallow, tropical waters of North Queensland, all over the Northern Territory and Western Australia.”

Queensland Health also advises:
•Always swim at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags
•Only swim in stinger nets if they are provided
•It is recommended that a full-body lycra wet or stinger suit (or equivalent) be worn to provide a good measure of protection against marine stings
•Look for and obey safety signs
•Do not enter the water when beaches are closed and;
•Do not touch marine stingers washed up on the beach – they can still sting you

Share your comments below.

18 Comments

- - nealsq said
  - 25 Sep 2016
    11:03 pm
speedy recovery to them, so scary!

- - Some_Toss said
  - 23 Mar 2016
    10:11 pm
Only in Australia, hey? :/ Poor fellow. Hopefully he makes a full recovery. Best wishes to his family.

- - serotonin said
  - 29 Feb 2016
    9:39 pm
How scary!! I knew being stung wasn’t god, but I didn’t know it was that serious, shivers. The ocean scares me a bit, so many dangerous creatures. It’s there home though, not ours, so can’t blame them for reacting.

- - mom94125 said
  - 28 Feb 2016
    9:55 pm
wow that is scary! you need to act fast anyway to reduce the pain to the victim but you wouldn’t expect a heart attack. wow. poor kid.
- mom93821 replied
  
  29 Feb 2016 , 6:07 am
  Poor child – undergoing this at a young age.
- - mom93821 said
  - 28 Feb 2016
    2:18 pm
Thanks for the article – always good to be reminded of the potential dangers.

- - june11 said
  - 24 Feb 2016
    12:30 am
Had the jellyfish sting penetrated his heart I very much doubt CPR would have revived him. It just proves how life threatening a clear wriggly looking “thing” can be. As I child I may have seen them but not whown what they were.

- - mom103920 said
  - 23 Feb 2016
    10:57 am
Australia – the Lucky Country and our unique wildlife. I’m glad the boy is responding to treatment. I wish him a speedy recovery.

- - mum4107 said
  - 23 Feb 2016
    6:10 am
Oh my goodness. How frightening. I’m glad he is ok

- - rachelvk said
  - 22 Feb 2016
    9:51 pm
Wishing him a speedy recovery. A very scary situation.

- - mom57619 said
  - 22 Feb 2016
    9:37 pm
Although it is tempting to swim, when we lived in Darwin we just stayed out of the water.

- - Mummytoabeautifulprincess said
  - 22 Feb 2016
    6:46 pm
Wow. What a scary experience!! So glad he is ok though!!

- - BellaB said
  - 22 Feb 2016
    4:20 pm
I’m glad he’s recovering. So scary.

- - mom90758 said
  - 22 Feb 2016
    3:56 pm
It’s so scary! Luckily he’s doing fine now!!

- - mom165081 said
  - 22 Feb 2016
    12:19 pm
Such a horrible thing to happen to any swimmer. Truly hope he makes a full recovery after receiving specialist care. A very timely reminder of the harm these jellyfish can cause. He was lucky to be able to receive medick attention promptly.

- - mom74640 said
  - 22 Feb 2016
    12:06 pm
Lke po

- - mom160421 said
  - 22 Feb 2016
    11:32 am
I hope this young man makes a full recovery.

- - Nas01 said
  - 22 Feb 2016
    11:12 am
How scary, hope he makes full recovery.