Swimmers warned of stinging compass jellyfish in sea off Suffolk

Swimmers have been warned to keep an eye out for stinging jellyfish which have been spotted along parts of the Suffolk coast.

Compass jellyfish, which are native to UK waters and common in the summer months, have been seen off Felixstowe, Southwold and Aldeburgh in recent days.

Lowestoft-based marine scientist Dr Adam Kennerley said the creatures could grow up to 30cm (11.8in) across and had large, trailing tentacles to catch small fish and plankton.

“They belong to a wider group of jellies called sea nettles, which kind of gives you a clue as to one of the main issues,” added Kennerley, who urged people to simply avoid touching them.

“From personal experience, they can give fairly painful stings, but symptoms can vary from person to person,” he told BBC Suffolk.

“Most people describe them as a sharp burning or nettle-type sting, and the symptoms do usually go away within a few hours.”

He said the high temperatures had possibly enticed the jellyfish towards the shore and people in the water need not panic but keep a watchful eye and avoid brushing against the jellyfish.

“In fact, I’d argue they should be enjoyed if you look and don’t touch,” he added.

“I think we’re very lucky to be sharing our waters with them.

“They are very distinctive species in the UK, they’ve got these beautiful brown and orangey colours and those V-shaped markings across their body which look just like the points of a compass, hence their name.”

A sting should be treated with basic first aid, Kennerley said, by firstly rinsing with cold sea water to cool it down, and removing any remaining tentacle without touching it.

Any persistent stinging should be treated with warm water, not cold, he added.

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