A popular swim spot on Sydney’s northern beaches has been overwhelmed by a population of stinging jellyfish that leaves a painful rash on those it touches.
Narrabeen locals have reported an influx of the small jellyfish washing up in ocean pools and stinging swimmers with their tentacles.
The native animals are related to the deadly box jellyfish and their sting – while less venomous – can leave raised red welts.
Local swimmer Ernest Michael told The Daily Telegraph that he felt the sting before he saw what was stinging him while swimming at the ocean pool.
“I couldn’t see anything in the water, but it just really felt like a jellyfish sting,” he said.
“I’ve been trying to work out what is was. I reckon it was a jimble.”
A photograph of the painful rash taken by a Balmoral Beach swimmer in 2016 shows raised welts that look similar to large white-head pimples encircled with a red ring.
Social media reports suggest the 15cm jimbles are in bloom in Sydney waters, with the number of stings increasing in recent months.
Their transparent flesh makes them quite difficult to spot.
One Twitter user suggested the influx had been around since March, with reports of stings in the swimming pool area at Narrabeen.
“A bunch of jellyfish at Narrabeen yesterday, a few people getting stung in the swimming pool area,” the user tweeted.
The NCA NewsWire has contacted the Department of Primary Industries for comment.