A nine-year-old Israeli boy was stung by a poisonous box jellyfish on a beach on the Thai island of Ko Phangan over the weekend and died as a result shortly after, Hebrew media reported on Sunday.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The Foreign Ministry was notified of the tragic incident while the Israeli consulate in Thailand was handling the case and in constant contact with the boy's father.
According to reports, the child was stung on Saturday, as the family was spending time at the beach, by a jellyfish strain that is considered among the most venomous in the world.
Local officials believe the boy was stung by either a box jellyfish or a sea wasp.
After he was stung and began suffering from a series of side effects, the boy was taken to a hospital in Ko Phangan where doctors tried to save his life.
According to various reports, the boy and his family have lived for several years on Ko Pha Ngan, which is located in southeast Thailand.
Thai authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
The venom of both invertebrates – often described as the world's most venomous creatures – is highly potent and very lethal to humans, striking directly at the heart and the circulatory system. Their toxins could kill an adult human within two to five minutes.
Local authorities install nets near the shoreline to prevent the deadly jellyfish from getting too close to the coast, the ynet news site reported.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
