A teenager in Australia has give way after being sting by a corner jellyfish , the first documented box Portuguese man-of-war human death in Australia for 15 long time .

The 17 - twelvemonth - old boy pall in infirmary a hebdomad after being burn by the Portuguese man-of-war on February 22 at a beach near Bamaga , a little town on the northern tip of Cape York in the north of Queensland , ABC Newsreports .

Box jellyfish is a term used to key piles of mintage launch in tropical and temperate sea around the globe . Some species pose piffling risk to humans , but others produce catastrophically potent venom .

It ’s thought the teen was stung by an Australian loge Portuguese man-of-war ( Chironex fleckeri ) , often described as the most deadly jellyfish in the world . The species is arm with 3 - meter - foresightful ( 10 feet ) tentacle covered with billion of nematocysts . On impinging , the tentacle willtrigger the explosive releaseof the harpoon - like nematocysts , which hand over potent and rapid - act spite into the dupe .

A sting is said to be agonizingly abominable and can pop a man within proceedings . Once the venom enters the body , thetoxin targets heart muscle cellsand pierce holes in them . This messes with the smooth contractions and relaxations of the heart muscles , in effect cause the heart to “ engage ” in contraction . Some box jellyfish stings can also lead toIrukandji syndrome , a dreadful , potentially lethal experimental condition that take to severe concern , muscle aches , dresser botheration , sickness and vomiting , sweating , and anxiousness .

While fatalities are relatively uncommon — local media says this is the first reported box jellyfish death in Australia since 2006 —   health expert monish this young individual ’s death is a crude reminder to   remain exceedingly conservative while swimming in the northerly waters of Australia during the summer .

“ If you do n’t have a protective suit of clothes and you know there could be stingers or jellyfish in the water , just do n’t go in , ’’ Dr Marlow Coates , Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Northern Director of Medical Services , told7News .

“ It ’s also significant that people are familiar withresuscitation methods – early resuscitation after major gyp from box seat jellies has saved lives in the preceding few years . ’’