Irish swimmers and beach walkers are being urged to take precautions against weever fish, a venomous species that buries itself in sandy shallows around the entire coastline and delivers painful stings to unsuspecting victims.
The small fish, most active between May and September when water temperatures rise, lurks beneath the sand with only its dorsal fin visible. When stepped on, it injects venom that causes severe pain, swelling, redness and numbness that can last more than 24 hours.
Méabh Delaney experienced the fish’s sting firsthand while walking on a Kerry beach. “I felt a weird sensation in my leg and foot,” she recalled. “It was really, really sore – the lifeguard said he has seen grown men cry from the sting.”
Her experience highlights the importance of immediate treatment. Lifeguards treated Delaney’s sting by immersing her foot in water as hot as possible, the recommended first aid that helps break down the venom.
Roger Sweeney from Irish Water Safety confirmed that weever fish are found “all around” the Irish coast and warned that a sting will “ruin the day.” He described the pain as “intense for the first two hours” with effects potentially lasting into the following day.
To avoid stings, experts recommend swimming at lifeguarded beaches, wearing protective footwear, or shuffling feet when walking in shallow water to disturb hidden fish. Swimmers should be particularly cautious during the two hours before and after low tide when weever fish are most active in warm, shallow sandy areas.
If stung, victims should seek immediate treatment from a lifeguard and immerse the affected area in water heated to 40 degrees Celsius for up to 90 minutes. Cold compresses should be avoided as they worsen the pain. While stings are rarely life-threatening, severe cases can cause anaphylactic shock requiring medical attention.