A deadly jellyfish left one swimmer with an "uncomfortable rash" after coming into contact with the sea beast on a beach in Devon.
Nicknamed the Portuguese Man o'War, the jellyfish has creepy tentacles which contain enough venom to deliver a painful sting, sometimes with fatal consequences - and it regularly uses its fearsome feelers to kill fish.
The bizarre looking blobs are usually found in the Atlantic Ocean or as far away as the Indian Ocean.
The killer Portuguese Man o’ Wars are non-binary siphonophore - made up of tiny animals called zooids - resemble a striking blue jellyfish.
It was found washed up on Elsberry Cove beach in Brixham, Devon.
Sally Alberici Trueman, 55, who spotted the jelly monster while out for a morning swim, said: “We were doing a beach clean after our swim, and we came across it.
“I said ‘That’s a Portuguese Man o’ War.’
“What must have happened, is it got washed up when the tide came in and it was stranded on the beach.
“We eventually came across two of them and picked them up with bags and told the Torbay Harbourmaster.
“They usually don’t come down this far.”
Sally told how she also bumped into a swimmer who may have been stung, complaining of an “uncomfortable rash” before she discovered the two creatures - which are often mistaken for jellyfish.
The former swimming teacher also said a dog is believed to have stood on another washed up jelly, stinging his paw and resulting in a trip to the vet - but thankfully is okay.
It comes after the deadly sea creatures were spotted along the North Wales coast and on Cornish beaches following February’s flurry of deadly storms.
And at the start of this month, the jellys were also spotted off the West Sussex coast.
Torbay harbourmaster Captain Rob Parsons said: “The Portguese Man-O-War is non-binary being, a colonial organism made of zooids despite the name, but it can definitely be fierce.
“We have been advised they are in the area and made unfriendly advances to some beach users off Broadsands this morning.
“The venom can be painful even when the stingers are detached or the siphonophore - not a jellyfish - has been dead for some time.
“Severe encounters may require medical attention but pain usually subsides after about one to three hours.
“Vinegar - acetic acid - spray followed by a heat pad/immersion in warm water - 45C - can alleviate symptoms but probably best just avoid them.”
