Invasion closes beaches
BRITISH coastal resorts are being invaded by deadly jellyfish-type organisms with tentacles 165ft in length.
Perranporth beach in Cornwall was closed by the RNLI yesterday after shoals of Portuguese Man-O-War were spotted.
Their sting is said to be “excruciatingly” painful to humans and can be deadly.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust has been inundated with 144 sightings in the last few days, compared with 40 in 2000 and 2009. Just three were spotted last year.
Strong westerly winds pounding our coastline are washing the organisms up on beaches.
Matt Slater, Marine Awareness Officer for Cornwall Wildlife Trust said: “This is an unprecedented event and we urge the public to be cautious and to keep an eye out for the unusual species being stranded.”