• Home
  • Learn Thai
    • Lessons
    • Books
  • Live in Thailand
    • Most Useful Posts
    • Visas
    • Women/Dating
    • Culture
    • Bangkok Living
    • Money/Jobs
    • Law/Politics
  • Travel in Thailand
    • Most Useful Posts
    • Book a Hotel
    • Bus/Train Tickets
    • Travel Insurance
    • Vaccinations Guide
    • Weather Guide
    • Diving Guide
  • Jobs
  • About
  • Support My Work
You are here: Home / Wildlife / Box Jellyfish in Thailand: High-Risk Areas, Sting Statistics & Prevention Methods

Box Jellyfish in Thailand: High-Risk Areas, Sting Statistics & Prevention Methods

Box jellyfish are a highly dangerous invertebrates species.

Aptly named with a cube-shaped body structure and long trailing tentacles, several species of the box jellyfish are extremely venomous, including the Carukia barnesi, Malo kingi, and Chironex Fleckeri.

Box Jellyfish are fast swimmers too. They are capable of achieving speeds of up to 1.5 to 2 metres per second, or about 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph), which is faster than most humans can swim; certainly children, anyway. The average sprinting speed among humans is 1.64 meters per second.

Their body structures are also complex: They have a well designed nervous system that enables them to move quickly, a brain-like structure, and twenty four eyes that can detect the difference between light and dark.

Unlike most jellyfish, the box are fairly adept at navigating around obstacles and swimming swiftly to a desired location. They can reach up to 10 feet in length, owing to their long tentacles, and can weigh up to 4.5 pounds.

chironex-fleckeri-box-jellyfish

A Chironex Fleckeri can be identified by its tentacles, which trail distinctively from its body.

How Dangerous Are Box Jellyfish?

Box jellyfish have long been touted as one of- if not the most- venomous creature in the world, though it’s important to note that some species of box jellyfish leave a sting that is fairly mild.

The species we are concerned with is the Chironex fleckeri (pictured above), which has been responsible for more than 60 deaths in Australia in the past hundred years.

In Thailand, there have been 15 serious cases recorded between 1997 and 2015 (the majority attributed to (Chironex fleckeri), though many cases of smaller sting incidents have gone unreported (officially), and indeed many stings are wrongly not attributed to the box jellyfish.

The venom from the Chironex fleckeri is powerful enough to degrade cell walls, causing them to leak potassium, a condition called hyperkalemia.

Hyperkalemia is an assault on the cardiovascular system and often results in a collapse, and then death, all within a 5 minute time period.

The serious bodily damage caused by this jellyfish can be mitigated by proper beach netting and immediate use of vinegar as a first aid solution. Though sadly these simple safety precautions are often neglected.

Chironex fleckeri stings are also particularly dangerous because it can be difficult to identify a sting until after the jellyfish’s venom has spread. In addition, the box species is hard to spot because of their transparency in shallow water.

box jellyfish koh samui

A sting victim's leg after a Sting in the North of Koh Samui (2012)

The Lowdown on Box Jellyfish in Thailand

Areas with a High Sting Rate:

The islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan have the highest incidence of fatal and near fatal box jellyfish cases in Thailand.

Among eleven cases with information of place of incidence, eight cases (53.3 %) occurred on Koh Samui and another six cases (40 %) occurred on Koh Phangan. One case did not occur on the beach; that of a man who took off his wet suit on a boat after diving and was stung on his left elbow by a tentacle attached to the wet suit.

In terms of beaches, the same eleven cases break down as follows:

East Rin beach of Koh Phangan (27.3 %), Chawang beach of Koh Samui (27.3 %), and Bo Phut of Koh Samui (18.2 %). Two cases occurred on Lamai beach of Koh Samui, and Khuat beach of Koh Phangan.

Incidents have also been reported along the west Strait of Malacca; most notably Krabi, Phuket, Ko Lanta, and Koh Phi Phi,

Thailand’s Andaman Coast, which sees much deeper water, is considered to be the safer in terms of jellyfish activity. However, both Hua Hin and Cha-am do suffer serious jellyfish influx during the wet season. One serious sting incident is pictured later on in this article.

Season/Climate When Box Jellyfish Come Inshore:

More box jellyfish appear during Thailand’s wet monsoon season, owing to the increased activity of the ocean and the changing winds that bring these jellyfish closer to the shoreline, where swimmers are more likely to be.

This season runs from May/June through October, with the most rain in August, September and the beginning of October.

If we look at the 15 officially documented and analysed cases since 1997: The highest incidence by month was August (33.3 %), September and October (20%), and July (13.3 %). Eight cases occurred on Samui (53.3 %), 6 cases on Koh Phangan island (40%), and one case on a boat.

Statistics referenced from study by Lakkana Thaikruea and Potjaman Siriariyaporn: https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com

Avoiding the Gulf during this season is an easy way to avoid the threat of box jellyfish. In addition, tourists should steer clear of any jellyfish washed up onto the beaches as they still have the potential to inflict a painful, and even deadly, sting.

Recent Sightings & Stings

While the majority of stings (and fatalities) occur in the Gulf of Thailand, two stinging incidents occurred in Koh Lanta- on Thailand’s Andaman Coast- during the month of May (2017).

This highlights the need for tourist education and an action plan on beaches everywhere in Thailand.

Deaths in Previous Years

Between 1999 and 2015, there were seven fatalities on Thai beaches. One death occurred on Koh Lanta in Krabi province, and six deaths happened on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan

The victims were all tourists, except one – a local Thai woman named Ms Chaiyanun Surin.

Here are a couple of the reports on these cases:

  • 20-year-old Thies Saskia dies in 2015 after being stung on Koh Samui (report)
  • 5-year-old French boy dies in 2014 in Koh Phangan (report)

Symptoms of a Box Jellyfish Sting

Unfortunately, many victims don’t realize that they have been stung until after the venom is injected, perhaps because the transparent jellyfish are so difficult to spot in the clear waters. Sting victims have reported a variety of symptoms from the venom, including:

  • Severe pain (burning and prickling)
  • Skin swelling
  • Visible tentacle tracks on body that are brown, red or purple
  • Itching
  • A feeling of numbness and tingling
  • Difficulty breathing, swallowing and speaking
  • Shivering and sweating/fever
  • Spreading, throbbing pain
  • Irregular pulse/ heart failure

Does Vinegar Work for Box Jellyfish Stings?

When analysing the use of vinegar in the aforementioned cases: of six fatal cases, only one had vinegar poured on the injury. Among six surviving cases, three received the vinegar treatment. One received vinegar as first aid at the hospital after 10–15 min being stung.

The jury is somewhat out on just how effective vinegar is, but the statistics appear to show a slightly higher chance of survival if vinegar is applied to the victim within a few minutes of being stung.

thailand box jellyfish attack

A 26 year old American woman stung by a box jellyfish on September 3rd 2010 at a beach on Pha-ngan island. She lost consciousness and was revived following resuscitation. Vinegar was applied.

How to Treat a Sting

  1. Get sting victim out of the water
  2. Wash affected area with vinegar consistently for 30-60 seconds, which will work to suppress venom release
  3. Gently lift off any remaining tentacles with a stick or a gloved hand
  4. Immerse affected area in hot (45C or 105F) water – a hot shower will also work to preserve the greatest amount of red blood cells
  5. Immobilize/splint the stung area and keep it at heart level [gravity-neutral] if possible.
  6. Get emergency attention.

Note: sting victims should not drink alcohol, take medicine or eat any food. Seek medical treatment as quickly as possible or apply anti-venom if available. In instances of severe stinging, CPR might be needed as the swimmer might go into anaphylactic shock.

What to Do If You See a Sting Victim

– Don’t panic; try to keep a level head and get the sting victim out of the water.

– Have someone call emergency services and prepare to take the swimmer to a clinic or an emergency room.

– If possible, find vinegar right away. Though some beaches in Thailand (and most in Australia) are equipped with vinegar stands, there is still the possibility that vinegar may be hard to find. In a recent stinging case in March of this year, a mother had to solicit beachside restaurants for vinegar to use on her son, who had been stung by a box jellyfish.

– Keep the victim calm and apply a steady stream of vinegar for 30-60 seconds. After, gently (with a stick or a covered hand) remove any remaining tentacles. Try not to scrape them away, as this will cause more venom to be released. If available, submerge the affected area in hot water or get the victim into a hot shower. If anti-venom is available, use it immediately.

cha-am box jellyfish sting

Stings often require major surgery and skin grafts, and of course stitching – as we see from this sting in Cha-am, Thailand

How to Avoid Getting Stung

1. Avoid Night Swims:

Warm shallow waters with sandy bottoms seem to attract box jellyfish, and an overwhelming consensus is that they are quite active when the sun goes down. Avoid swims at dusk or at night.

2. Beware of Lotion Claims:

Note that jellyfish sting prevention lotion has not been actively tested on venomous jellyfish stings and is probably not worth the purchase.

3. Get a Stinger Suit:

Lycra swimming/dive suits are a good choice for protection, and there are now dedicated stinger suits available.

The difference between a wet suit or dive suit and a stinger suit is as follows:

  1. Stinger Suits and Dive Skins: suitable for water temperature 20°C or 70°F and above;
  2. Wetsuits, Dive Suits and Drysuits: suitable for water temperature between -2 and 25°C or 28 to 77°F.

The suits are both effective and cover arms and legs to the wrists and ankles. It is definitely worth considering suits for children in particular as they are more vulnerable in terms of being able to sport the danger and withstand the sting.

4. Swim at Beaches with a Vinegar Stand

The active maintenance of vinegar stands on Thai beaches is another excellent way to mitigate the effects of a jellyfish sting. Those who are injured by box jellyfish and treated quickly with vinegar have a statistically higher chance of survival and will suffer a lower degree of pain and scarring.

Check that the beach vinegar stand has a full bottle, and better still, take your own!

5. Make Sure You Have Good Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, even if sting victims are able to receive immediate medical attention, there is still the chance that rural emergency clinics are not up-to-date with the latest science on treating stings.

You will need post trauma treatment too, which is essential for a full recovery.

One victim in Thailand in 2008 received inadequate stitching as a response to his horrible stings. As a result, he is still dealing with the repercussions of this botched medical procedure today.

With this in mind, make sure you travel with comprehensive medical insurance. This will ensure that you have the ability to be seen at a top hospital with top surgeons, or even a plastic surgeon if you need a skin graft.

>> Read up on good cover travel insurance here

6. Know Your Rights:

If a loved one has been badly injured by jellyfish, stay on guard throughout the entirety of the process.

Shannon Leone Fowler’s novel, Traveling With Ghosts, tells the devastating story of losing her fiancé on a beach in Thailand after the pair went for a sunset swim and he was stung.

After Sean, her fiancé, was transported to a Thai hospital and later died, Shannon was forced to sign documents that weren’t adequately translated for her and that pinned responsibility for Sean’s death on a drunken drowning- a statement that was both unfair and untrue.

Be sure to insist upon comprehensive information and translation should you be admitted into a Thai hospital.

box jelly fish thailand

A 31 year old Chinese man stung on September 12th 2015 at Chaweng beach, Samui island. He lost consciousness & received vinegar & cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the hospital (10–15 min after being stung). He was admitted into Intensive Care Unit and put on a respirator.

Remember: Box jellyfish stings are rare, so don't be fearful – but they can happen. Follow the precautions in this post and enjoy your holiday.

Tips to Start Planning Your Trip Now

Book Your Accommodation:

Best hotel rates are found at Agoda, and Hotels.com.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance:

Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never travel without it. I’ve been using SafetyWing for years. You should too.

Want to Visit the Best Beaches?

Most tourists do not know about these. See here

loader

GET MY NEWSLETTER

Join thousands of others who receive my monthly roundup of content & insider tips on how to survive & thrive in Thailand.

  • Share it
  • Tweet it
  • Pin it
  • Email it

Last Updated on December 21, 2022

  • 10 Species of Spider You Might Be Lucky Enough to Meet in Thailand
    10 Species of Spider You Might Be Lucky Enough to Meet in…
  • Sharks of Thailand: Species, Locations, Risk & Attack History
    Sharks of Thailand: Species, Locations, Risk & Attack…
  • An 8-Step Guide to Eliminating & Preventing a Cockroach Infestation in Your Condo
    An 8-Step Guide to Eliminating & Preventing a Cockroach…

Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Adrian Martin says

    July 11, 2022 at 11:23 am

    The bluebottle which stung me was in the sea, West of Perth in WA. (City Beach to be precise).

    They're a very common visitor and are often blown into swimming areas.

    Treatment back then was with Flavine. I'm not sure that is was very efficient, but the stings cleared in a few hours.
    Reply

    Jul 11, 2022 at 11:23 am

  2. Anne says

    July 2, 2022 at 10:35 pm

    Got stung by a jellyfish on west Railay Beach 3 days ago (june 29th 2022) around 3pm. Went to play in the waves close to the shore with my 8yo daughter while it was raining. I had no idea of the risk… thank god my daughter has not been stung. Went right away to the closest hotel, they gave me vinegar. Went to my hotel and asked them vinegar aswell since they gave me a small amount. Soaked towel with vinegar and pressed it on my leg, then had a hot shower and removed tentacles. I barely have a scar now. Pain was gone after few hours.
    Reply

    Jul 02, 2022 at 10:35 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      July 3, 2022 at 3:52 am

      Ouch! Glad to hear you're okay and your daughter didn't get stung. I've swum there too but luckily didn't encounter one. Thanks for letting us know here.
      Reply

      Jul 03, 2022 at 3:52 am

    • George says

      July 8, 2022 at 6:48 pm

      Hi Anne, I just got stung today. It’s is painful and stinging at the minute, how long did the stinging sensation last for you ? Thanks
      Reply

      Jul 08, 2022 at 6:48 pm

      • TheThailandLife says

        July 8, 2022 at 6:57 pm

        Where were you when you got stung?
        Reply

        Jul 08, 2022 at 6:57 pm

  3. suellen de sa says

    February 14, 2020 at 2:42 am

    Hi. I inform you that I was caught by a jellyfish on January 28, 2020 on west Railay beach. I was recording a video a few minutes ago that there was entry into the water when I got caught. The hotel did not understand what had happened and passed a yellow Thai ointment on me, one of the components was camphor. The ointment helped relieve, then I was compressing with ice.
    After two days it was swollen. They stop on February 9 when I was already in Brazil, the injuries revived and became swollen again, itching and burning. Be careful when entering the sea, if I knew the gravity I would have entered only in proper clothing! @desasuellen
    Reply

    Feb 14, 2020 at 2:42 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      February 14, 2020 at 10:56 pm

      Sorry to hear that Suellen. Thank you for the report; now other people can take care at this location.
      Reply

      Feb 14, 2020 at 10:56 pm

  4. Daniel says

    April 20, 2019 at 9:12 am

    Got stung in phuket patong beach march 19th 2019 around 5pm I saw few death jellyfish on the shore but I didnt pay attention. After swimming for a while I felt a very painful burn in my arm . It got all around my uper arm and back. I went to my hotel and for the next 2 hrs I went through a lot of pain . I didnt know about the vinegar .it was very very painful. In some point I thought I needed to go to the hospital but eventually I felt better. I got some red stripes all over my arms as a reminder of this event.. be careful guys.
    Reply

    Apr 20, 2019 at 9:12 am

  5. Tentacule says

    April 19, 2018 at 8:42 pm

    Got stung on my arm (1-2cm) and my wife on the neck in Koh Lanta in april for our first bath here a few years ago, probably a piece of tentacle from a jelly fish cut in pieces by the near boats propeller...

    There was no vinegar at the resorts kitchen so I had to rush to the nearest Seven a few hundred meters away...

    There was no visible remains but I used a rasor to scrap the area after applying the vinegar.

    Hopefully it was really small because despite it was looking insignificant, beside the sense of skin tightness, burning and redness, I did not felt very well after a while.

    I prefer to stay on the shore now.
    Reply

    Apr 19, 2018 at 8:42 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      April 20, 2018 at 3:32 am

      Ouch! Close call. It is a concern. I've got my daughter a UV wetsuit and only let her go paddling.
      Reply

      Apr 20, 2018 at 3:32 am

    • Adrian Martin says

      June 18, 2018 at 8:48 pm

      In northern Australia where there are various stinging jelly fish, beaches have 1 litre bottles of vinegar in special stands every few hundred metres.
      Reply

      Jun 18, 2018 at 8:48 pm

    • Natarajan says

      September 16, 2018 at 8:20 pm

      I was stung by two biz jelly fish and I can well say that it was a near death experience. I was saved due to availability of Vinegar at the hotel. I could barely breath. This happened to me on 19th of August 2018 at Koh Samui. Just don’t enter sea water without stinger suit . If you want to know more write to me nataura@gmail.com
      I can send photographs.
      Reply

      Sep 16, 2018 at 8:20 pm

  6. Adam says

    February 8, 2018 at 12:36 pm

    I was stung by what I believe was a box jellyfish on Samui in August of 2013. There was no vinegar and no warning signs. Fortunately the tentacle contact was relatively minor, only a single tentacle maybe about 50-60 cm or so across my back. Very painful. Had to buy vinegar at a local shop to treat it, which helped tremendously, as did a hot shower afterwards. Was able to laugh about it by the end of the day and never reported it, but after later reading about all the fatal box jellyfish stings on Samui and Phangnaan, I realize I was very lucky.
    Reply

    Feb 08, 2018 at 12:36 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      February 8, 2018 at 3:24 pm

      Wow, that was a close call. Have you any idea what type it was? Did it leave a scar? Where were you swimming, shallow or deep water? And what time of day?
      Reply

      Feb 08, 2018 at 3:24 pm

  7. ng johnny says

    August 26, 2017 at 6:50 am

    thank you, I will stay away from jelly fish a thousand miles
    Reply

    Aug 26, 2017 at 6:50 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      August 27, 2017 at 5:01 pm

      That's a wise choice!
      Reply

      Aug 27, 2017 at 5:01 pm

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

thethailandlife

Hi! I’m Peter. I’ve been living & traveling in Thailand for 14 years. I’m here to give you all the information you need to make your Thai adventure safe, happy, & successful.

Recommended Thailand Services

I get a lot of requests for recommendations on services related to living in Thailand. To make things easier for you, I’ve compiled a list of those I use below.

Learning Thai

Thaipod101 is the best way to learn Thai online. It's how I started learning. They have hundreds of video and audio lessons to help you start speaking Thai today. Start free here.

Sending Money

Wise is the cheapest and fastest way to send money to Thailand. I use it and so do many of my readers. Go here to get your first transfer free.

Financial Planning

Whether you need life insurance, pension planning or other investment advice, I can connect you with my personal IFA. Simply fill out this form.

Health Insurance

I recommend getting a quote from Cigna for international Insurance, and then comparing that with local insurance premiums on Mr Prakan.

Travel Services

Hotels: Agoda offers good deals on hotels in Thailand. This is because they are located in the region and secure lots of special promotions. It's also worth trying Booking.com and Hotels.com for comparison.

Travel Insurance: SafetyWing is great for trips to Thailand and elsewhere. I've used them many times. If you're from the UK/Europe you can also try True Traveller.

Over 70? Insure My Trip. has policies for those struggling to find travel insurance cover due to age restrictions.

Bank Account

Need an international bank account that holds multiple currencies and lets you transfer, receive & spend wherever you are, with a MasterCard. I've used one for 4 years. Check out Wise.

Rent / Buy Property

Looking for an apartment to rent or a home to buy? For the largest selection of properties in Thailand, and a completely free service, visit PropertyScout here.

Data Security

To keep your data secure you should use a VPN when using public WIFI and when accessing internet banking and other sensitive information online. I use both Vypr VPN and Nord VPN.

Reader Favourites

1. Cheapest Way to Send Money to Thailand

2. Top 15 Thai Love Phrases [Video]

3. 100 Interesting Facts About Thailand

4. Best VPN to Protect Your Online Privacy

5. Buying a Condo: 9 Questions Before You Decide

6. Get Fluent in Thai in 3 Months!

7. Top 12 Jobs for Thailand Expats

8. Expat Life Insurance: 10 Must-Know Facts

9. The 4 Best Thai Dating Sites

loader

GET MY NEWSLETTER

Join thousands of others who receive my monthly roundup of content & insider tips on how to survive & thrive in Thailand.

*Please check your inbox to confirm your email address

Helpful Posts

+ Get the Right Visa
+ Get COVID Insurance
+ Get Health Insurance
+ Learn Basic Thai
+ Check Cost of Retirement
+ Check Cost of Living
+ Find a TEFL Course
+ Find a Job
+ Open a Thai Bank Account
+ Get Married
+ Best Visa Run Option

Join The Conversation

  • TheThailandLife on How to Get a UK Visitor Visa for Your Thai Partner [in 6 Steps]
  • Simon Windley on How to Get a UK Visitor Visa for Your Thai Partner [in 6 Steps]
  • TheThailandLife on The Cost of Living in Thailand in 2023 – How Much Do You Need?
  • Mark on The Cost of Living in Thailand in 2023 – How Much Do You Need?

Get A Hotel Quote Now

Contact | Privacy Policy | Site Terms & Disclaimer| Media Pack 

Copyright © TheThailandLife.com 2023. All Rights Reserved.
No content on this site may be copied without written consent from TheThailandLife.com