As the weather is due to pick up, Irish people have been warned that jellyfish might not be the only pesky creature on the beach.
Masters of disguise, the weaver fish buries itself in the sand where it digs in, so that only the eyes, mouth and its venomous black dorsal fin project.
If stood on by unlucky beachgoers they unleash a powerful sting that causes excruciating pain.
READ MORE: Swimmers warned to watch out for poisonous weever fish appearing on Irish beaches
Stings have also been known to trigger heart attacks or cause a severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylactic shock.
Wexford lifeguard Olivia Middleton told the Irish Sun: “I have treated some jellyfish stings in the past, but for every one jellyfish sting we treat on the beach we treat 20 more weever fish stings.
“Not many people know about them, but they are pretty bad if you get stung, and you would definitely know - it's really painful.”
However, it's been noted that Weever fish bites can affect people differently.
RNLI lifeguard supervisor Beau Gillet previously said: "I've seen grown men cry from the pain and then a small child not be affected by it."
Water Safety Ireland say the sting is
“most intense for the first two hours when the foot normally goes red and swells up" but warned the pain "may last for up to two weeks.”
In order to treat a weever fish sting you should place the affected area into a basin of hot water no cooler than 40 C but as hot as you can handle is best.
The hot water draws the venom out and relieves the pain.
Advice on how to avoid a sting from Water Safety Ireland includes “swimming approximately one hour to two hours either side of low water to reduce the risk of stepping on them.”
They added: “The public should wear flip flops or sandals when walking on the beach close to low water.”
Sun bathers still needed to watch out for jellyfish as sightings of the venomous creatures are on the rise and it could be down to climate change.
The notorious lion's mane jellyfish and their cousin the Portuguese Man O' War have been spotted on our shores.
Dr Damien Haberlin, who runs The Big Jellyfish Hunt Facebook page, this week said he’s been notified of several Portuguese Man O' War sightings and said it won't be the last time the venomous vermin are seen.
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