Walker’s deadly jellyfish scare

A DOG walker has told how he came across a giant Lion’s Mane jellyfish washed up on a beach.

The lethal species, which measured roughly five feet in diameter, emerged on Traught Beach in Galway last Thursday.

It was taken back out to sea, still alive, by the rising tide. Local Pauric Collins was walking his dog when he came upon the massive sea creature.

He said: “There were loads of jellyfish on the beach. I saw a few of the Lion’s Mane and then I came across this big one.

“I took a picture but it meant nothing without something beside it, so I took Duke [his boxer dog] off the lead and put him beside the jellyfish. Duke is not a small animal, he’s about four-and-a-half stone.”

Scores of Lion’s Manes have been seen on beaches in Galway and Clare in recent weeks and at least three people have been hospitalised following stings in both counties since early June.