The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
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Beachgoers in Tayside and Fife are at increasing danger from a fish that hides itself in the sand and delivers a potentially deadly sting to the unwary.
A Fife fisherman said he had seen five weever fish already this year when he rarely sees more than two in an entire year.
Bill Thornburn – who was himself stung two years ago – is urging Scots not to go barefoot at the beach this summer.
The sting of the weever fish can cause gangrene, seizures and abnormal heart rhythms.
Just two weeks ago, it was reported that a 12-year-old schoolgirl from Cornwall had been left wheelchairbound after being stung by one of the sea creatures.
It is now feared that as waters around Scotland warm up, more weever fish will be attracted to once safe beaches.
Bill, 66, from Kirkcaldy, suffered severe swelling and pain after he was stung on the arm while digging for worms.
He said: “Most fishermen know about them, but other folk probably don’t.
“When I’m out digging for worms, I might see maybe two of them a year, but this year I’ve seen five and it’s not even summer.
“I want to warn people about it, as they are horrible little things. They look like nice enough wee things, but they are quite dangerous.
“I wouldn’t want to think about a child being stung. Kids should have flip flops on the beach to be safe. Some dogs have been stung too, it can be quite serious.”
Speaking about when he was stung two years ago, Bill said: “It was excruciating. I’ve been stung by a lion jellyfish and it was nothing compared to a weever.
“My arm swelled right up and I knew quite quickly that I would need to go to the hospital. They told me that it could have caused a heart attack so I was quite lucky.”
Weever fish are more commonly found in warmer waters, and thus, are more regularly seen in Scotland in the summer months.
Weevers hide in the sand so that they can ambush smaller fish. The spine acts as a defence against larger creatures while they are buried.
Earlier this year, it was reported that marine creatures associated with warmer water such as sardines and sea bass were appearing with increasing frequency in North Sea fishermen’s nets.
Their appearance was theorised by scientists to be a potential sign of climate change.
Twelve-year-old Evie Austin was also bitten by a weever fish while bodyboarding off the coast of Cornwall last summer.
Now, almost a year on, she has to take a cocktail of drugs every day, including morphine and ketamine, to manage her pain.
She can only attend school for four hours a week and can’t bear any weight on her leg - so is forced to use a wheelchair.
The NHS website states: “Weever fish are small, sandy-coloured fish that usually lie buried in the sand on the seabed.
“They have poisonous spines on their back and gills that can sting you, usually on your feet or hands.
“Seek medical assistance if you’ve been stung while in the sea and your symptoms are severe – for example: severe, prolonged pain, chest pain or breathing problems, severe redness and swelling around the affected area, fits or seizures.”