Warning as killer creatures wash up on English beaches

Beachgoers across Dorset have been warned to stay vigilant after multiple sightings of the Portuguese man o’war, including on Chesil Beach

Portuguese man o’war washed up on beach (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Beachgoers have been warned to stay vigilant after sightings of venomous jellyfish-like creatures across Dorset’s beaches last week.

The Portuguese man o’war has been found washed up on multiple beaches, including Chesil Beach on January 19.

The Portuguese man o’war is typically found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. It has numerous venomous cells that can launch a sting powerful enough to kill or paralyse small organisms.