In the seas around the UK, there are only a few types of sea creatures that sting and they are generally quite rare.
The five main types of stinging sea creatures found in UK waters are described below.
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Weever fish: a small fish, sandy in colour, that usually lies buried in the sand on the seabed. Weever fish have poisonous spines on their back and gills that can sting people, usually on the feet or hands.
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Stingrays: flat, circular or diamond-shaped fish that have a sharp, serrated barb underneath their tail. As with weever fish, most people who are stung by a stingray are stung on their lower legs, ankles and feet after accidentally stepping on one in shallow water.
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Sea urchins: small, round sea creatures with a bony shell that is covered in spines. They are usually found in the shallows, on rocks and in seaweed. The spines of sea urchins are sharp and hard and can cause puncture wounds. Between the spines, small organs contain poison that is released as a defence mechanism.
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Jellyfish: mushroom-shaped creatures that often float near the surface and have long, thin tentacles on the underside of their bodies. The tentacles are covered with small poisonous sacs called nematocysts, which if touched produce a nasty sting. In recent years, during the warmer months, large groups of jellyfish have become increasingly common in the seas around Europe.
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Portuguese man-of-war: a large, poisonous jellyfish-like creature (although it is not a jellyfish) with a large purple-blue, gas-filled bladder and tentacles that hang below the water. They are usually found in tropical waters but in some rare cases they have been spotted in UK waters or washed up on beaches. The sting can be painful but rarely causes death.
Signs and symptoms
The visual signs and symptoms will vary between each type of sting. Weever fish and sea urchins usually sting your foot and will often leave spines in the wound.
Stingrays can leave a large, jagged cut or puncture wound on your skin, and jellyfish and Portuguese men-of-war will often leave raised blisters on the skin in the shape of their own tentacles.
All stings are painful and cause swelling, inflammation or raised areas of skin (welts) and nausea. You are also likely to have other symptoms, depending on what has stung you.
Read more about the symptoms of sea creature stings.
When to seek medical help
It's best to get medical assistance for any type of sting you get in the sea as it will need to be treated and any spines will have to be removed.
If you are in the UK and have been stung, go to the nearest A&E department of your nearest hospital or dial 999 to request an ambulance if you are stung by a stingray, or if you've been stung by any marine creature and you have:
- severe pain that lasts for more than an hour
- chest pain and breathing problems
- fits or seizures
- been stung on a delicate part of your body, such as your face or genitals
Read more about how stings in the sea are treated, both at home and in hospital.
Avoiding stings in the sea
It is rare to be stung in the sea in the UK, but there are precautions you can take to avoid stings.
These include:
- observing any warning signs that are on the beach
- not touching or handling any stinging sea creatures
- wearing protective clothing, such as a wetsuit or waterproof footwear
- scuffing your feet as you walk in shallow water to warn any sea creatures that you are approaching
Read more about how to prevent being stung in the sea.
Healthcare abroad
If you are travelling abroad, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with animals and plants that can cause injury in the countries you are visiting.
It's also important that you have the right travel insurance for the country or countries you're visiting. Make sure your insurance policy covers any specific activities that you plan to do, like water sports or scuba diving.
When travelling in Europe, a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will entitle you to free or reduced-cost medical care. However, the EHIC will not cover you for everything that travel insurance covers, such as emergency travel back to the UK.