If you’re planning on visiting a beach in the UK during the summer months, you may wish to heed the advice of a mum as a “matter of urgency”.
Danielle Manton-Kelly, who is known as The Enchanted Nanny on social media, says her advice applies to anyone heading to the seaside between June and September. Speaking from experience on the sand, she explained in a TikTok video: “We have these things called weever fish and I am making this video because my best friend’s brother just got stung by one.”
She continued, advising that the sea creature can survive for a reasonable period of time hidden on land, saying: “He’s trodden on it in barefoot and usually that would cause a hefty sting where you would need to put the hottest water possible on the area to stop the venom from spreading and stinging.
Unfortunately, however, her pal’s sibling “didn’t even get that far” – for he suffered a “massive” allergic reaction, which resulted in him immediately requiring hospital treatment. “It’s been a really scary time and a shock to the system,” Danielle exclaimed.
“Weever fish definitely feature heavily on the UK coastline so if you’re going to the beach, always wear beach shoes such as flip flops and jelly shoes.” Danielle also advised to pay particular care with children. “Do not let them wander around by the sea with no shoes on – it doesn’t bare thinking about,” she warned.
Danielle closed: “I would say look out for weever fish, but they are so camouflaged. Just be careful – it’s not worth the risk.”
Writing in response, a former lifeguard backed up Danielle’s advice having witnessed and dealt with a number of harrowing cases of weever fish stings himself. “I cannot tell you how many people ignored our sign to say, ‘Weever Fish! Warning! Please wear beach/swim shoes!’, she recalled.
“I had screaming crying children and even toddlers in agony because parents were ignoring us telling them to keep their kid’s beach shoes on or put some on them (we even gave them out for free and people still refused them because they ‘don’t look nice’. It was absolutely heartbreaking dealing with it!”
She went on to recall one “nasty” instance in which a young girl was rushed to hospital having suffered a major reaction to a sting on her foot, which left her struggling to breathe. “Her parents said she’s never had an allergic reaction to anything before,” she said. “We had her on oxygen to keep her conscious and we had every bit of our kit ready just incase, waiting on an ambulance! Please wear thick sole beach shoes when these nasty things are about!”
Elsewhere, other TikTok users were clearly grateful for the advice. “At 34 I never knew these existed,” one person admitted. “Crazy!”
A second added: “I live on the south coast and thankfully I have never seen one in my 42 years! I’ve always walked the beach barefoot, lesson learnt now as it sounds horrible.” A third individual quipped: “Thought the million adder signs were bad enough, now weever fish!”
Whilst a fourth shared their tale of woe: “I was young and in Cornwall. I remember the pain and I collapsed in the sea. Luckily was with someone. Lifeguard ran to me and put my foot in hot as hell lava water. Then they put it on the news. Brutal sting and horrible little things.”
Marine charity, The Wildlife Trusts adds further guidance, meanwhile, stating online: “There are two species of weever fish, lesser and great. And they are some of the only venomous fish in UK waters. They spend most of their lives buried in the sand, but when disturbed, they shoot up their black dorsal fin in defence, injecting a painful venom into unsuspecting victims!
“How to identify: Upturned, grumpy mouth, with a deep yellowish body tapering down towards the tail. Eyes sit on top of the head as the rest of the body is usually buried in the sand. Black dorsal fin contains the venom, along with spines on gill covers.”
