Almost a year to the day after a teenager died from a jellyfish sting in North Queensland, five young children have been stung at the same beach.
The children, all under six years old, were taking part in their weekly Nippers surf lifesaving training at Eimeo Beach in Mackay on Sunday when the jellyfish brushed past them in shallow waters.
All children were wearing protective stinger suits and suffered only minor stings to their feet and hands.
Patrolling member Ross Gee was on duty for both this incident and last year's, and responded quickly, finding vinegar to pour on the painful welts.
"They [the children] looked as though they all knew they'd been stung ... a couple of them were screaming," he said.
"When I saw the stings, I was very relieved. It wasn't a box [jellyfish] and it wasn't an Irukandji [another highly venomous species] because for five kids to get stung by a jellyfish the size of a fingernail, it just wouldn't happen."
All five children were taken to the Mackay Base Hospital and were in good spirits when they arrived at the emergency department.
"From all reports when the kids got to hospital, they were all giggling after their ambulance trip," Mr Gee said.
A chance to educate others
Tammy Louch said she initially thought her daughter, Macy, was complaining about sand irritating her skin.
But when she saw other children crying, she knew something was wrong.
"We only moved up from Victoria two years ago and this is our first year doing Nippers," Ms Louch said.
"But they know they can't go in the water without a stinger suit, so they know that it's just something you have to do.
"I can only imagine what would have happened if she didn't have it on."
For long-time surf lifesaver Ross Gee, the weekend incident again highlighted the importance of always wearing stinger suits.
"It localises the sting to the lower foot, which makes it a minor sting," he said.
"And the kids, now they're in the mindset that when they're lifesavers they can't wait to treat kids when they need help."
Tammy Louch said her daughter Macy was already making plans for this weekend's Nippers session.
"She's probably more enthusiastic to go back … she's keen to tell everyone the importance of wearing a stinger suit," she said.
"She wanted to take the photos and her stinger suit to school and tell everyone they need to wear a stinger suit.
"She knows the importance of what would have happened if she wasn't wearing it."
While stinger season is traditionally considered between November and May, Mr Gee said people going to the beach at any time of year should wear protective clothing.
