Koh Phangan Near-Fatal Box Jellyfish Sting
Zoe Cahill, a 23-year old Australian, was 50-metres offshore at Zen Beach on Koh Phangan in October 2023 when she swam into a box jellyfish and received excruciating life-threatening stings.
Alone in shock and agony, crying and screaming, Zoe summoned all of her courage and strength and somehow managed to get back to land, collapsed and critically began to turn blue.
Desperate first-responders frantically doused her in litres of vinegar while a nurse performed CPR and, after restoring vital signs, she was rushed to the local hospital.
An emergency speed-boat transported Zoe to Koh Samui where with extreme sting damage to limbs and torso she remained in a hospital bed for a month.
Zoe's story as covered in mainstream media including Australia's 9 News and related to thousands of her @zoe_cahill Instagram followers on social media is another cautionary tale of survival with box jellyfish in South-East Asia.
We reached out to Zoe but received no reply at the time of writing. However, in a few of her Instagram posts, it seems Zoe has come to terms with her terrifying experience with soulful and spiritual reflection and deep personal insight.
According to Zoe, "every sacred drop of jellyfish venom" gave her the "grandest of awakenings".
After her spirit she claims was drawn back into her body with emergency massage, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and reiki, Zoe's breathing and thoughts manipulated her body's nutrients to "change the genetic readings within my cells to heal from all the diseases".
Sounding more perhaps like perceived enlightenment on Ayahuasca, Zoe believes that it was a "gift" to "taste this sweet holy medicine" from the world's most venomous animal and that her spirit is now reborn.
We are more than happy that Zoe showed enormous resolve, survived and could turn a real nightmare into a dream scenario. We hope Zoe's scars heal soon.
If Zoe's sting had occurred a little less than 10-years ago, it is highly likely that she would not have survived.
Further Reading: Boy dies on Koh Phangan
A committed Thailand has put enormous time, energy and resources into creating a box jellyfish prevention and treatment system and network that is very active on Koh Phangan.
Dedicated research, information dissemination, up-to-date training and constant monitoring now make a discernible difference from the beach front-line to hospitals and government authorities. Thailand takes this extremely seriously.
Further Reading: Thailand's high-level response to box jellyfish
The fact is that according to Zoe about 15 people rushed to her aid, doused her with vinegar and a specialist performed CPR. Historically, there's panic, confusion and catastrophic mistakes. This time there was quick thinking, immediate action and correct treatment. The transport, the medicos and hospitals were ready. Responsible authorities took action. This is exactly what is meant to happen so that lives are saved.
Knowledge is power. The community responded.
Mostly, the system works. It's a reassuring prospect for those intending on wading, swimming, snorkelling and everything else done in seawater on the beautiful islands and coastlines of Thailand.
However, it's only the main hotspot beaches in tourist areas that are prepared. Everywhere else, you're more or less on your own.
Further Reading: What to do if stung
So, if you're at a popular beach with jellyfish warning signs or a remote paradise with nothing more than palm-fringed ocean in sight, there are things you can do to protect yourself.
Harmful box jellyfish are distributed throughout much of Thailand's coast and they don't intend on stinging you, you bump into them.
Bring your own vinegar. A cheap 7-11 bottle should do.
Wear a lycra sting suit. Yes, we know, not a fashionable look and not the au naturel feeling one dreams of, but they are proven with scientific and empirical evidence to prevent death. 100%. These waters can be a dangerous wilderness. Ask any marine biologist, they'll be the ones in a snug safety suit!
Further Reading: Lycra sting suits save lives
Zoe had been blissfully swimming without a suit or incident around Koh Phangan for months. It's normal for the vast majority. Even still, this is box jellyfish habitat, they're the ones with the deadly quick-acting venom, the risk is always there.
Zoe's near-death experience is typical of other victims who suffer unimaginable pain with the cardio|neuro|dermatonecrotic venom injected in one of nature's fastest cellular processes to shut down the heart. It's not a blessing.
Finding solace in her spirituality, Zoe lives another day for which we are happy though the message needs to be crystal clear.
The result for a survivor may be interpreted as a gift from god, a divine healing, a sacred transformation as well as Mother Nature's body art and an empowering meme.
The cold hard truth is that box jellyfish stings can be deadly. The mystery that science is still trying to unravel is the potency and power of their venom.
In recent years according to records, a 9-year old boy was killed while swimming outside a prevention net on Koh Phangan. So did a 25-year old man, a 31-year old woman and a 5-year old boy. Families and loved ones were left utterly devastated. There have been countless stings, hospitalisations and near-misses in between causing untold pain and misery. While on nearby Koh Samui there has been death and serious injury.
This doesn't happen every day, though there were numerous other stings in the region during September and October 2023. Were some unlucky? Others lucky? Was there a twist of fate or was it destiny? Maybe. But first thing's first, control what you can when it comes to these guys.
Thankfully, Thailand like Australia now has a system in place to help save box jellyfish sting victims and the reality is that it is proving to be effective.
Further Reading:
Photos from 9 News Australia
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