It was perfect July beach day, until and uninvited guest crashed the party.
The water was 63 degrees, tempting swimmers to take a dip to refresh their heated skin when a huge jellyfish, dead but not defeated, let its tentacles spread, stinging over 100 swimmers.
Shortly after swimmers began to complain about being stung on their legs, lifeguards spotted the dead jellyfish and pulled it out of the water with a pitchfork.
"It was as big as a turkey platter,” said Park Manager Ken Loughlin, who has worked at the beach for 30 years. “I’ve never seen such a thing.”
Five children were taken to the hospital for precautionary allergic reaction treatment and the beach was closed following the incident. While many victims were treated in the beach bathhouse, no serious injuries were reported.
For Hampstead, N.H. resident Alysia Bennett and her three children, a nice day in the sun ended with bee sting-like pain and tears. “They were terrified,” she said.
Aquarist Robert Royer said the creature was most likely a lion’s mane jellyfish, common to New England waters. “I’ve never heard of them getting 50 pounds,” Royer said.
Lion’s mane jellyfish can have barbed tentacles up to 110ft long, capable to sting even after death. “That’s the largest we have around here,” Royer said.
Emergency crews from a number of Seacoast area towns responded to rescue officials' call for assistance. Park Manager Loughlin said the beach has reopened
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