I was swimming at night in the Gulf of Mexico. The water was delightfully warm like bathwater and the air somewhat cool with evening and I was very relaxed, swimming and floating in the dark water. Suddenly I felt shockingly painful stings something like bee stings only at the time they seemed worse. I screamed and flailed and got stung more and ran out as fast as I could--I was covered with JELLYFISH STINGS which continued to hurt for quite some times. This was in 1965 (or 66), so I don't remember all the details. I do know this, the water was very shallow--long ways out, and I got stung again on my way back in on the legs--and was told swimming at night was a bad idea because you couldn't see the jellyfish which otherwise you'd avoid.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Jellyfish in the Gulf
I was asked about my jellyfish experience, and this is what I remember:
I was swimming at night in the Gulf of Mexico. The water was delightfully warm like bathwater and the air somewhat cool with evening and I was very relaxed, swimming and floating in the dark water. Suddenly I felt shockingly painful stings something like bee stings only at the time they seemed worse. I screamed and flailed and got stung more and ran out as fast as I could--I was covered with JELLYFISH STINGS which continued to hurt for quite some times. This was in 1965 (or 66), so I don't remember all the details. I do know this, the water was very shallow--long ways out, and I got stung again on my way back in on the legs--and was told swimming at night was a bad idea because you couldn't see the jellyfish which otherwise you'd avoid.
I was swimming at night in the Gulf of Mexico. The water was delightfully warm like bathwater and the air somewhat cool with evening and I was very relaxed, swimming and floating in the dark water. Suddenly I felt shockingly painful stings something like bee stings only at the time they seemed worse. I screamed and flailed and got stung more and ran out as fast as I could--I was covered with JELLYFISH STINGS which continued to hurt for quite some times. This was in 1965 (or 66), so I don't remember all the details. I do know this, the water was very shallow--long ways out, and I got stung again on my way back in on the legs--and was told swimming at night was a bad idea because you couldn't see the jellyfish which otherwise you'd avoid.
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8 comments:
I've always been afraid of unseen jellyfish. When I lived in Florida I'd run from the water every time I saw what turned out to be a plastic bag...
Back in 1965, there weren't as many plastic bags in the water.
But it's hard to see at night!
Did you live?
I seem to be breathing.
yikes, jelly fish always creep me out. I read about little tiny jelly fish,Irukandji, once and although he lives in Australia, I always worry that one has made it's way up here when I'm in the water.
I imagine I'd be traumatized too if I'd of had your jellyfish experience.
I got stung again years later, but not as badly as that first time.
I got stung once. I was told it was a blue bottle sting. They call them Man-O-Wars here in the states. It didn't hurt at first, but when I got out of the water, it started to burn, and I noticed the welt across my leg. Fifteen minutes later the muscle started to cramp and spasm. The spasming lasted for about 30 or 40 minutes. I couldn't walk. I feel your pain.
WOW! That sounds painful and upsetting and scary.
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