Weever fish warning as stings soar in hot weather

A WEEVER fish warning has been made after almost 30 people were treated in one weekend at a popular beach during the hot weather spell.

In Cornwall, the RNLI said there had been several reports in the past week of people stepping on weever fish, which lurk in sandy areas in shallow water.

A spokesman for the RNLI said swimmers would “definitely know” if they stood on a weever fish because of their poisonous spines along their backs.

“Last week our lifeguards reported 26 weever fish stings across our beaches,” he said.

They urged anyone who did fall victim to seek help from the lifeguards who are “well rehearsed in treating these stings with hot water”.

Richard Harrington, head of communications at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “The increased number of reported weever fish stings is more likely to be due to the high number of people going into the sea in the recent warm weather, rather than an unusually high population of the fish themselves.”

At the beginning of July RNLI lifeguards at Perranporth, North Cornwall, dealt with 26 weever fish stings, while in Gyllyngvase, South Cornwall, there were 16.

Meanwhile in Kent, Folkestone Rescue said it had received reports of “numerous” people being stung by jellyfish over the last two weeks with temperatures soaring above 86F (30C).

Weever fish stings are best treated by applying hot water to the wound for around 30 minutes, using a hot flannel or towel.

It is also advised that if the spine is stuck in your foot that it is pulled out with tweezers or the edge of a bank card – but do not touch the spine with bare hands.

Swimmers have been advised to shun bikinis and shorts for full-length wetsuits and other protective swimwear.

The British Sea Fishing website says: “Usually the pain begins to subside after a few hours, and should be gone within 12 to 24 hours.”