Hundreds Injured by Jellyfish on Germany's Fehmarn Island

Over the past weekend, 273 people on the island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea required assistance after being stung by jellyfish. Rescue workers said the surge in injuries was caused by strong winds that pushed lion's‑mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) toward the beach and by the large number of tourists on the shore.

The stings are described as painful but not life‑threatening. DLRG Schleswig‑Holstein lifeguard Christine Karaagac told NDR that “there is no greater danger for swimmers,” though she warned that the small jellyfish can be hard to spot. Victims are treated by rinsing the area with water, gently removing tentacles with tweezers or a credit‑card edge, and in many cases applying shaving foam to soothe the pain. The lion’s‑mane jellyfish in the Baltic typically reach up to 50 cm in diameter, far smaller than their Arctic counterparts.