Lion's Mane Jellyfish Stings 150 on N.H. Beach

Ouch! Jellyfish stings 150 on N.H. beach - Local News Updates - MetroDesk - The Boston Globe
RYE, N.H. -- About 150 people were stung by a jellyfish at a state park in Rye on Wednesday, officials said.

Parks and Recreation Department officials said children, vacationers and people attending recreation programs at Wallis Sands State Park were stung. (See pictures of Wallis Sands State Park)

Officials said a lifeguard spotted the jellyfish about 100 yards offshore. He swam out on a board with a pitchfork and brought it to shore.

According to The Associated Press, Doug Grout, chief of marine fisheries for the state, identified it as a lion's mane jellyfish, a species rarely seen this far south. It was estimated to weigh 45-50 pounds, and its longest tentacle was 13 feet.
After the jellyfish was brought to shore, people in the water began describing reactions including itching and burning. Some described a vise-like feeling in their legs, which medical workers said was likely due to the stingers of the jellyfish.
As many as 150 people received treatment at the lifeguard station. Emergency workers said they were treating the people who had been stung, and about 10 children were taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
Two-year-old Hazel Kirshenbaum's feet were left red and swollen.
"My daughter was screaming," Shannon Kirshenbaum said. "We were trying to figure out what was wrong with her, so we picked her up and started to get out of the water, and that's when they announced that they had caught a jellyfish that had split into pieces and that there might be tentacles in the water."
Doctors said the stingers were being removed from some victims, and vinegar was used to treat the sting sites.
"It seemed very orderly," said surfer Paul Karinja. "They definitely made it clear that it was time to get out of the water."
The park manager said that in 50 years on the Seacoast, he had never seen anything like the jellyfish wash up.
The beach was closed temporarily during the incident but was expected to reopen on Thursday.
Here is the stroy on MSNBC: Jellyfish Stingers!