Diver tells of ‘intense’ sting pain

“LIKE getting hit by a car” was how 28-year-old Ben Lawrence described the feeling of being stung on the face by a deadly irukandji jellyfish.

Last Tuesday Mr Lawrence was diving near Mast Head Island off Gladstone when the irukandji found its way between his diving suit and mask, stinging his face from cheek to cheek.

Speaking from his bed at Rockhampton Base hospital, Mr Lawrence recalled the pain that ensued.

“I’d never felt anything like that in my life, it was probably the worst in my life,” Mr Lawrence said. “I was working for about two to three minutes and the pain came on which was immediate – stomach pain, back pain, nausea. It was pretty intense.”

The sea cucumber diver from Airlie Beach was on the last day of a three-week diving trip when he was struck.

He said after about three minutes he was pulled onto the boat, given oxygen and poured water over the sting area before he started vomiting.

He got in touch with the Royal Flying Doctor Service who advised morphine injections into his leg.

“It was not fun,” he said with a laugh. “I was getting waves of pain coming up my leg, I was getting a cramp in my chest and abdomen.”

He said after about an hour of riding out the pain the helicopter arrived with a “nice” paramedic and winch operator.

“The paramedics in the helicopter thought I was going unconscious, but it was easier for me to lie still. You can kind of ride it out – go into your own little quiet place.”

Mr Lawrence is expected to leave Rockhampton Base Hospital today.