Highlights
- 17-year-old Queenslander dies from box jellyfish sting
- The last fatality from the dangerous animal was recorded 15 years
- Stings from the Australian Chironex species can be intensely painful and fatal
The 17-year-old passed while in hospital where he stayed for a week after the sting.
He was swimming at a Patterson Point beach in North Queensland when he was stung on 22 February.
The young boy was transferred to Townsville Hospital, but eventually died on Monday, a Queensland Police spokesperson said.
It is believed to be the first box jellyfish fatality since 2006 with the last one 15 years ago, reportedly taking place in the same area.
Box jellyfish – named after their body shape – are also found in other places with warm waters, including Indonesia, the Philippines and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Australian species - Chironex fleckeri – is considered a constant threat during the warmer months on the Northern Queensland coast.
A major Chironex sting is immediately and excruciatingly painful. It should be considered life threatening. Large box jellies such as Chironex have caused more than 70 fatalities in Australia.
But experts say fatalities are avoidable, urging the public to take all necessary precautions, such as swimming in the designated areas and wearing a protective suit.
