Sydney residents have been put on alert after a young boy’s brush with a blue-ringed octopus at a popular swimming spot.
Residents and visitors in the Hunters Hill area have been warned to be aware of the extremely venomous creatures after an incident at Woolwich Baths in Sydney’s Lower North Shore on Wednesday.
A boy was taken to hospital as a precaution after encountering the octopus on Wednesday afternoon, but was released later that day.
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Hunters Hill Council issued a public notice for the outdoor swimming spot.
“If you are swimming in Woolwich Baths, please beware of blue-ringed octopus,” it said.
The strong, fast-acting toxin of a blue-ringed octopus paralyses its victim by blocking the nerves from transmitting messages and can be fatal, according to the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
The creatures are typically found on coral reefs and rocky seafloors but can also be spotted in ocean pools and seagrass.
But in good news for swimmers, blue-ringed octopus only bite if being harassed or poked, AIMS said.
The swimming enclosure on the Lane Cove River is open to the public between sunrise and sunset, Monday to Friday.
Council advises families to keep children under supervision at all times at the baths.
