{
  "id": 6397128,
  "title": "Foreign tourist hospitalised after Portuguese man o’ war sting at Phuket beach",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/foreign-tourist-hospitalised-after-portuguese-man-o-war-sting-at",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T08:15:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Thaiger",
    "slug": "the-thaiger",
    "url": "https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phuket-tourist-portuguese-man-o-war-sting"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A foreign tourist from Spain was hospitalised after suffering a severe allergic reaction following a Portuguese man o’ war sting at Naithon Beach in Phuket, according to local reports. Lifeguards raced to administer first aid before the visitor was transported to hospital. The incident came to light on September 9, following the sharing of images from Naithon Beach on the Phuket Times Facebook page. These pictures displayed what seemed to be a Portuguese man o’ war contained within a box, alongside the tourist's leg displaying clear marks from contact. Lifeguards cautioned both local and international visitors to exercise caution when entering the sea. Any individual who encounters a Portuguese man o’ war or other venomous marine life must refrain from touching it directly using bare hands, and promptly alert lifeguards or relevant authorities. San Paolo Hua Hin Hospital advises those affected to remove residual tentacles using a non-tentacle object like a card, piece of paper, or stick, ensuring direct contact is avoided. The impacted region should not be rubbed, massaged, or treated with any medication, as residual venom-carrying structures might persist on the skin even after tentacles are no longer visible. Applying pressure or rubbing can induce venom discharge and exacerbate symptoms. Rinsing the affected area with seawater can assist in eliminating lingering tentacles; fresh water should be avoided as it may trigger further venom release. A spray anaesthetic can be applied if accessible to alleviate pain, or ice can be gently used to mitigate discomfort. Visitors should seek immediate medical attention if experiencing severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness. The hospital also recommends avoiding the sea during the rainy season when jellyfish are more prevalent and may appear in greater numbers.",
  "summary": "Lifeguards at Nai Thon Beach in Phuket gave first aid after a tourist suffered a severe allergic reaction to the sting on September 9. The story Foreign tourist hospitalised after Portuguese man o’ war sting at Phuket beach as seen on Thaiger News .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}