RYE, N.H. – A 100 swimmers were stung by an enormous jellyfish today, causing Wallis Sands State beach to be temporarily closed and reopened today. The large jellyfish estimated to weigh almost 50 pounds was already dead and floating in the ocean.
Five children were taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital while others were treated in the bathhouse however there were no reported serious injuries.
Park manager Ken Loughlin who’s worked there for 30 years described the jellyfish, “It was as big as a turkey platter.” Loughlin continues, “I’ve never seen such a thing.”
Robert Royer, an aquarist at Seacost Science Center, believes it was probably a lion’s mane jellyfish, “That’s the largest we have around here. I’ve never heard of them getting 50 pounds, though.” Lion’s man jellyfish are common in New England and have barbed tentacles that can stretch up to 100 feet long and continue to sting after it dies.
“They were terrified.” Said Alysia Bennett of Hampstead, New Hampshire of her three children who came bolting out of the water crying. They were not the only ones as lifeguards reported 50 children running for shore, screaming at the top of their lungs.
After which, Lifeguards removed the jellyfish using a pitchfork. Emergency crews from Stratham, Portsmouth, Greenland, New Hampton, Newington, and Rye also reported to the scene at approximately 2 pm. The temperature was a light 72 degrees with a water temperature of 63.
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