Dartmouth Coastguard Rescue Team Issues Warning Over Portugese Man O'War On UK Beaches

Dog walkers have been warned to be alert after a number of deadly jellyfish-like creatures were swept onto UK beaches.

Dartmouth Coastguard Rescue Team have advised dog walkers to consider keeping their dogs on a lead to keep them safe from the Portugese Man O'Wars, which have been spotted across a number of beaches on the Devon coast.

The creatures are toxic to dogs and in some cases fatal if ingested, the coastguard warned.

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A spokesperson for the coastguard said: "One of our team was out early today and came across this Portuguese Man O’War 'jellyfish' on Slapton Sands and others at Lannacombe Beach too. The one in the photo was about 7cm across the float.

"We normally see them in the summer but the wind direction has been from the West to South sector for a lot of the winter and they have been blown up the channel onto our beaches with the high winds today.

"These give a very nasty sting that lingers, it can sting even when dead on the beach, and they are very toxic to dogs and in some cases fatal if ingested. It may be wise to keep you dog on a lead on the beach?"

Writing in the comments, a local person said they'd also spotted one on nearby Bigbury Beach.

Speaking to the BBC, coastguard volunteer David Bailey added: "It's a very stunning creature and... in warmer climates the tentacles can grow up to about 50cm in length."

He advised beachgoers to "look where you're sitting" as the creatures can often be found tangled among the seaweed, but added that the news "shouldn't put you off going to the beach".