Reading headlines today I came across this story about the man with the "Best Job in the World" getting stung by an Irukandji jellyfish. Ouch!
What makes his job so great, you ask? Well, prior to getting the nasty sting the British man was caretaker of a tropical island paradise near Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The 34-year-old Ben Southall won a contest to blog about life on Australia's Hamilton Island. The six-month assignment started in July and basically kept him swimming, exploring and relaxing on the island all to promote tourism. Oh, and he got paid $120,000 to do so. Tough life, huh?
Of course, at least there isn't the constant threat of getting stung by ridiculously poisonous jellyfish while I'm working at my desk. Unless someone slips one into my coffee. (checks coffee)
The tiny critter is a type of box jellyfish, whose venom is the most deadly in the animal kingdom.
Its sting can lead to symptoms that include shooting pains in the muscles and chest, excruciating muscle cramps in the arms and legs, severe pain in the back and kidneys, a burning sensation of the skin and face, headaches, nausea, restlessness, sweating, vomiting, high heart rate and blood pressure, and psychological phenomena like the feeling of impending death.
If not treated quickly, the syndrome can occasionally lead to a rapid rise in blood pressure and heart failure. Two tourists were stung and killed in 2002 - the first recorded Irukandji fatalities.
So basically, it's the scariest animal on the planet. And it's the size of a peanut. And it's nearly impossible to see in the water. And it's so small it passes through nets meant to keep jellyfish away from popular swimming spots. And we thought Jaws was frightening?
This guy's job was to do one thing and one thing only: Promote tourism to this island by having a blast. Job fail.
------------------------------
Tags: Animals, Marine Life, Oceans, Travel, Weird News
comments ( )