Australia's 'Best Job' winner stung by jellyfish

by **sayonako** Sat Jan 02, 2010 3:45 pm

The winner of Australia's "Best Job in the World" contest has survived a sting from a potentially deadly jellyfish just days before the end of his dream stint on the Great Barrier Reef.

The winner of Australia's "Best Job in the World" contest has survived a sting from a potentially deadly jellyfish just days before the end of his dream stint on the Great Barrier Reef.

British charity worker Ben Southall said he needed emergency medical treatment after being stung by the highly venomous irukandji jellyfish while jetskiing off Hamilton Island.

"I was feeling pretty hot and sweaty, had a headache and felt pretty sick too, together with pain in my lower back and a tightness in the chest and a really high blood pressure," he wrote on his blog.

Southall, 34, had injections before falling into a deep sleep and was not aware of what had happened until the next day.

"I'd had a minor brush with what can be a very serious jellyfish and has led to people being hospitalised for a number of days," he said.

"My slight knock was enough to tell me that its not something to be messed around with and I really should have been wearing a full stinger suit."

At least two swimmers have been hospitalised by the tiny, fingernail-sized irukandji this year, including one man who was airlifted from the picturesque Whitsunday Islands on Monday.

Southall beat out 34,000 competitors to land the six-month "caretaker" stint on Hamilton Island, during which he was paid to explore the idyllic region and blog about his experiences. His term expires at the end of the year.

Photo: The Irukandji Jellyfish that can kill a person: