Nasty Bite For Child At Rock Pool

[mrmoshe]

Nasty bite for child at rock pool

FOUR-YEAR-OLD Felix Bodewes told his mother he never wants to go to North Narrabeen rock pool again after he was attacked by a nasty marine parasite.

Mum, Johanna of Newport, said both she and Felix suffered a red blotchy rash and itch after swimming in the pool near Narrabeen Lagoon.

``It was incredibly traumatic, really full-on,'' she said.

``Felix was covered in bites from the waist down . . . it caused him an inordinate amount of distress and discomfort.

``He said, `Mummy, we are not going back to that beach again'.''

The infection, known locally as pelican or Narrabeen itch, is from a larval flatworm.

Narrabeen Coastal Environment Centre manager Joanne Tulau said the marine parasite was found in shallow waters and was extremely common at Narrabeen lagoon.

But she said the Bodewes family was the first to report an incident this summer.

Greens candidate for Pittwater Craige McWhirter said Pittwater Council should inform residents about the parasite.

The Newport resident and friend of the Bodewes family said the council should place warning signs at locations where people were likely to swim and be affected.

The council said it would make more information available to the public about marine parasites.

Yesterday the council spokeswoman said an ``interpretative sign regarding the many types of creatures that can cause stings'' would be placed on the lake shore.

``Information regarding marine animals that may cause dermatitis has been put on the Pittwater web page,'' she said.

The council said anyone stung should see a doctor or visit a chemist for treatment.