Teenage swimmers treated for jellyfish stings

July 1998

A number of teenagers are treated in hospital after suffering jellyfish stings while on a water safety course.

Thirty young people are taking part in a weeklong programme at Gyles’ Quay organised by the National Safety Council.

The exercise is called off but many parents feel it should have been halted earlier.

Twelve swimmers receive attention in the casualty department of the Louth county hospital. All are released later the same day.

One male who is stung under the arms and starts to get breathing problems is taken by ambulance, a spokesman for Louth county council confirms.

The exercise, a 1000m swim in a cordoned off area by the pier, starts shortly after noon when the tide is on its way in.

As the swim continues it is evident large jelly- fish are coming in with the tide and shortly after the first stings, twenty-five of the participants leave the water, while the other five successfully complete the exercise.

One male starts to develop breathing problems and an ambulance is called. He is joined in the ambulance by four others and brought to hospital.

Seven more swimmers, including the five who finish, are later taken in by their parents. All 12 receive pain-killing injections.

A man who arrives at approximately 12.30pm sees a lot of people gathered around the shop by the pier. Some are crying and others are various stages of shaking and shivering as an ambulance draws up.

‘In seven years of this national exercise this is the first time we have this problem in Gyles’ Quay,’ says county council water safety officer, John Lawrence.

He adds all the injured swimmers are back the next day to complete a theory test.