By
Cat Viglienzoni - July 22, 2010
It wasn't sharks that wrecked havoc on a New Hampshire
beach yesterday - it was a large dead jellyfish. Up to 150 people - most of
them children - needed treatment after coming into contact with pieces of the
tentacles.
Jellyfish tentacles do not deactivate when the creature
dies, retaining its ability to sting for up to days afterward, scientists say.
Fire Lieutenant with the Rye Fire Department Charles
Gallant said the jellyfish at Wallis Sands State Park was about the size of a
trash can lid and weighed 45 to 50 pounds. He said the creature's tentacles
extended up to 13 feet.
"While they were removing it, it broke apart, the
tentacles did, and our understanding is that jellyfish tentacles will stay
alive for three to four days after it had died, and that pieces of it were
floating around in the water," he said.
The jellyfish had broken apart when a lifeguard tried to
remove the carcass from the water earlier that day. He had spotted the creature
100 yards from shore and dragged it to shore with a pitchfork, which is when parts
broke loose.
Gallant said when they got the dispatch in the early
afternoon, they expected to help treat about 50 children. But by the time they
arrived, the situation had escalated.
"When we got on scene, we found many more people than
that in the building, who were being treated by the lifeguards on duty,"
Gallant said.
So many complained of itches and burns that the Rye fire
department officials called in for reinforcements from five other nearby fire
stations. Most of the children were treated with vinegar and baking soda, but
five were transported to the hospital due to allergy concerns. They were later
released.
The creature was identified as a lion's mane jellyfish,
which are not usually seen this far south. Officials ordered everyone out of the
water before finally bagging the jellyfish and placing it in the trash.
