Curiosity almost costs a tourist’s life

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The innocent look into a shell turned out to be life-threatening. A tourist picked up a seashell while swimming in the sea in Australia. Inside was a blue-ringed octopus that apparently felt threatened by the curious woman and bit her in the stomach. Now she is fighting for her life in the hospital. The incident took place in Mosman, New South Wales.

The woman complained of severe abdominal pain after the bite, a spokesperson for the local rescue service writes on Facebook. The rescue team applied pressure to the wound and applied cold compresses. The patient was immediately taken to a hospital.

One of the most dangerous species in the world

The octopus can be recognized by the blue rings on its surface that only appear when the octopus feels threatened. The animal is considered one of the most dangerous and venomous underwater creatures in the world. “The bite of such an octopus is very rare. But when it comes down to it, it quickly becomes dangerous,” continues the spokesman for the rescue service.

The Australian Institute of Marine Sciences describes on its website how venomous the animal really is. The venom of the animal leads to paralysis of the nervous system, which can lead to respiratory arrest. However, the paralysis does not affect the brain. Therefore, most victims die while fully conscious.

Two years ago, the blue-ringed octopus made headlines in Bali. At the time, an ignorant student held the animal in her hands to make a Tiktok video. Fortunately, the young woman escaped unhurt. (A)

Source: Blick