An Australian surfer has recounted a life-threatening encounter with a highly venomous jellyfish in Fiji, describing the ordeal as one of the most frightening moments of his life.
Guy Rowles, a 30-year-old roofer from Sydney, was on a surf trip when he suddenly felt an intense sting on his arm while paddling last Thursday. What initially seemed like a routine incident quickly escalated into a medical emergency.
“It was instant and intense — like my arm was on fire,” he told Sky News Australia. “It felt like hot oil being poured on my skin, and it just wouldn’t stop.”
Unlike previous stings he had experienced in Australia, the pain worsened rapidly. His local guide quickly identified the likely cause as a box jellyfish — one of the world’s most venomous marine creatures — and urged him to return to the boat immediately.
As they made the 40-minute journey back to the mainland, Mr Rowles said his condition deteriorated. He struggled to breathe, felt dizzy and experienced tightness in his chest.
“I looked at my dad and asked, ‘Am I going to die?’” he said.
Fearing the worst, he called his family to say goodbye before arriving at hospital, where medical staff treated the sting and closely monitored his heart.
Although it was too late for antivenom, doctors applied vinegar to the affected area and observed him for several hours before discharging him.
Remarkably, Mr Rowles made a swift recovery and returned to surfing the following day, later expressing gratitude to those who assisted him during the incident.
