Portuguese Man o’ War Spotted on Patong Beach as Lifeguards Issue Warning

Portuguese man o’ war have returned to Phuket’s west coast, prompting a warning from the Patong Surf Life Saving Club. The marine creatures were spotted on Patong Beach on September 7, with lifeguards cautioning that more may appear both in the water and along the shoreline in the coming days.

Portuguese man o’ war belong to the genus Physalia and are technically not jellyfish. They are colonies of specialised hydrozoan organisms living together as a single floating unit. However, they are commonly grouped with jellyfish in beach safety warnings because their tentacles can pose a similar threat to swimmers.

Contact with the tentacles can cause intense burning pain and significant skin irritation. In sensitive individuals, a severe allergic reaction is also possible.

The Patong Surf Life Saving Club advises anyone who comes into contact with a Portuguese man o’ war to immediately seek help from beach lifeguards so first aid can be provided.

Portuguese Man o’ War: What You Need to Know

• Do not touch creatures that resemble jellyfish, whether they are in the water or washed up on the beach. Keep children away from them as well.

• If you are stung, seek assistance from the lifeguards immediately. If any stinging cells remain attached to the skin, do not remove them with your bare fingers.

• Do not rub or massage the affected area.

• If symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest tightness, severe weakness or other signs of a serious reaction develop, call Thailand’s emergency medical service on 1669.

Portuguese man o’ war cannot actively control their direction of movement. They drift with the wind, waves and ocean currents.

As a result, their presence on one beach can indicate that similar organisms may also be found at other locations along Phuket’s west coast, depending on prevailing sea and wind conditions.