Were French pair killed by deadly Irukandji jellyfish?
REEF DEATHS
MYSTERY surrounds the death of two French tourists on the Great Barrier Reef south of Port Douglas.
One of Australia’s leading cardiologists has revealed they were likely stung by Irukandi jellyfish despite claims they had suffered heart attacks due to ‘pre-existing medical conditions’ while snorkelling at a popular reef site near Cairns.
The Passions of Paradise boat that Danielle Franck, 74, and Jacques Goron, 76, were onboard released a statement yesterday saying as much, and that they'd taken in seawater.
“Two divers were affected by swallowing seawater? Give me a break,” Sydney heart specialist Ross Walker told news.com.au today.
“Look at the facts here. You have jellyfish infested water, and the bite of the jellyfish stimulates a heart attack.
“I think they were more likely all bitten by Irukandji jellyfish. But if that gets out, then the people running the dive programs won’t get anyone in the water.”
The tiny marine stingers, which can be smaller than a thumb nail, are usually present in Far North Queensland waters between November and April. They are the smallest and most venomous jellyfish in the world and cause rapid heart rate and high blood pressure if bitten. This can lead to an abnormal heartbeat and, in extreme cases, heart failure.
One Port Douglas water based tourism operator, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Newsport it was a ‘real possibility' an Irukandi sting had led to the deaths.
“Unfortunately stingers don’t discriminate in our waters,” the tour guide said.
“We have the world’s most diverse range of corals and that comes with some of the more nasty stingers.
“People have died out on the reef from heart attacks before, but who’s to say they haven’t been bitten by Irukandi prior to that?”
Symptoms from an Irukandi sting can be delayed with many victims unaware they've been bitten.
Another tourist snorkelling at Michaelmas Cay yesterday had medical difficulties, but survived. It’s still unknown if the trio were wearing protective stinger suits.
Scotty Garden, Chief Executive Officer of Passions of Paradise, said the boat had a lookout on the beach and another on the boat, along with two snorkel guides in the water at the time of the tragedy. The French couple were pulled unconscious from the water onto a nearby beach where CPR was performed, but neither could be saved.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.