Poisonous Jellyfish!
29 March 2008 | Union Island
We discovered Portuguese Man of War Jelly fish on the beach. These posses powerful stinging cells called nematocysts in their tentacles and a gas filled chamber that the Jelly uses to propel itself across the water just like the sails of the Omarsea.
For those of you who have not yet heard the story. Stephen and the other kids were playing in shallow surf a few weeks ago and he was stung by the Man O War on his legs. There was only a single tentacle about eight inches long. It caused red welts on his leg and upper thigh. Fortunately a neighbor came down with rubbing alcohol that relieved much of Stevies pain. He was a real trouper going back into the water a while later. I too have been stung by these floating time bombs and can tell you that the only thing I have heard it compared to is being doused in gas and set on fire. Not having had that experience I can only say that it hurts like the Dickens and Stevie handled himself well.