Jellyfish invade Benalmadena

REPORTS of a swarm of thousands of potentially dangerous purple jellyfish have surfaced, invading the beach in Benalmadena. 

The jellyfish, known as the mauve stinger or Pelagia noctiluca, have washed up in the cove next to the casino in Benalmadena. 

Social media accounts report that the medusas are as big as people’s hands, each measuring between 10-20 centimetres in diameter and are scattered across the beach like a scene out of an alien movie. 

The glow in the dark jellyfish, shine a bright purple when in warmer waters. Contact with their tentacles triggers stinging cells with spiny filaments wound up like springs cause severe pain. These filaments then can inject toxins into the skin, causing irritation and nasty burns.

People are warned not to touch the jellies as they could still pack a punch, even when stranded on the beach. 

In the summer, the best protection against stings is sun cream which stops venom being released by the tentacles and penetrating the skin.

Scientists have noted a surge in the number of Pelagia noctiluca spotted in European waters in recent years.

Global warming and an unusually mild winter have increased numbers, according to experts.