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'Best Job' Winner Stung by Lethal Jellyfish

Southall survives worst day of dream work

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 30, 2009 2:12 AM CST
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(Newser) – Contest winner Ben Southall is recovering after his final week in "the world's best job" nearly became his last week alive. The 34-year-old Englishman, who beat thousands of other applicants to land a 6-month $150,000 job as caretaker of a Great Barrier Reef island, was stung by a tiny but potentially lethal jellyfish while jet-skiing this week, the BBC reports.

Southall received immediate medical treatment after the sting. "I thought I'd done particularly well at avoiding any contact with any of the dangerous critters that consider this part of the world their home," Southall wrote. "I've avoided being boxed by a kangaroo, nibbled by a shark and bitten by a spider or a snake—but then in my final few days on Hamilton Island I fell afoul of a miniscule little creature known as an Irukandji."

A tiny but fully grown deadly Irukandji jellyfish lies next to match sticks to demonstrate how small it is. The jellyfish is almost invisible in the water, but its sting has been known to kill humans.
A tiny but fully grown deadly Irukandji jellyfish lies next to match sticks to demonstrate how small it is. The jellyfish is almost invisible in the water, but its sting has been known to kill humans.   (AP Photo/Brian Cassey, File)
Ben Southall is seen on Daydream Island in Queensland, Australia.
Ben Southall is seen on Daydream Island in Queensland, Australia.   (AP Photo/Queensland Tourism, Eddie Safarik, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Yourself
Dec 30, 2009 9:33 AM CST
"stung by lethal jellyfish" doesn't always mean a lethal ending, it just means the jellyfish can be lethal. It's not overly clear, but it's also not as misleading as you seam to try and imply...
NxBigmouthery
Dec 30, 2009 9:21 AM CST
Once again, vinegar to save the day. Irukandji stings, well one sting from an irukandji, will not normally be enough to kill. They're toxic as fuckery, though.
Netstorm2k10
Dec 30, 2009 8:56 AM CST
Since he's alive, the guy's luck still holds. Wonder who he's betting on for the Superbowl?

 
Australia • Queensland • jellyfish

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