Cornish beaches awash with poisonous Portuguese man o’war

The creature’s sting can result in anaphylactic shock

Hundreds of venomous Portuguese man o' war have washed up on beaches across Cornwall, with people warned to steer clear of the dangerous creatures.

Sightings of the “floating terror”, as the animals are sometimes called due to their painful sting, were recorded mainly on the south coast, including on shores near Falmouth, Porthleven, and St Ives.

The animal’s sting is powerful and can send a victim into anaphylactic shock, with children being particularly vulnerable. Although commonly mistaken for jellyfish, the creatures are actually a colony of organisms working together to function like an individual animal. 

The creatures occasionally wash up on Cornish beaches due to the wind, currents or tides pushing them towards the shoreline.

Following reports of the stranded creatures, Cornwall Wildlife Trust's Marine Strandings Network issued a warning last week telling people to keep their distance from the creatures, which have been known to occasionally kill people.

"We have had numerous reports of Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis) strandings taking place across Cornwall, brought in by the recent winds and weather," it said in a statement. "These intriguing creatures are not jellyfish, but are actually a colony of individual polyps dependent on each other for survival.

"The distinctive purple gas-filled float, the pneumatophore, acts as a sail which helps to float the rest of the colony across the surface of the water. The tentacles can hang down for several meters, secreting digestive juices onto prey which has been caught and immobilised by the debilitating sting delivered from the specialised stinging cells.

"If you do happen to come across any of these fascinating creatures, please make sure you do not touch and only admire from a distance."

The Cornwall Wildlife Trust recommends treating stings with by washing the affected area with salt water and removing any tentacles with tweezers and rubber gloves.

The Marine Strandings Network urges anyone who sees a Portuguese man o' war to contact the team immediately on 0345 2012626.