Raby Bay warning after two stung by stonefish

Both victims were adults and were stung in separates incidents while wading.

One required a nerve block and was treated with an antivenin. The stings followed another incident on Thursday at Mooloolaba.

Metro South Health contacted mayor Karen Williams who ordered signs to be erected along the city’s foreshore on Friday.

Signs were erected at Raby Bay and at the Amity swimming enclosure on Saturday.

Residents were warned not to touch a stonefish’s spikes, which carry a highly toxic poison.

January is the time of the year stonefish are often spotted in the city’s canals.

Council will post notices along the foreshore at Raby Bay to warn swimmers of the dangers over the weekend.

Strong, king tides and winds over Christmas may have had some effect on the number of stonefish in the area.

Stonefish will inject a poison causing excruciating pain but are not deadly.

Victoria Point marine biologist Dr Dennis Tafe said many stonefish lived in the sand on the seabed close to shore in areas where there was a current.

He said they were experts at camouflage, liked seawater, not freshwater, and preferred sand to mangrove mud.

Dr Tafe said on their underside, they have three sets of modified fins, like legs, so they can walk along the seabed.

"They lie on the bottom completely motionless with their mouths pointed upwards and when prey passes they just snap it up,” he said.

"When someone stands on one, the dorsal spines spike up and inject a highly toxic poison that can affect heart rate, and is very painful.

"It gets into your bloodstream and can cause swelling and discolouration and then panic or irrational behaviour," Dr Tafe said.

STONEFISH TREATMENT

1) Ring 000

2) Plunge the limb or body part into hot water. The hotter the water, the better.

3) If the pain continues after the hot water, use freezing cold water.

4) There is an ante-venom for stonefish stings.

If stung by a stonefish, call triple zero and immerse the affected limb into hot water.