|
 
DATELINE: 16 March 2003
NEW TREATMENT FOR DEADLY
IRUKANDJI JELLYFISH
STING SAVES BRITISH DIVER
"23-year-old diver Tim Saxon from South Yorkshire
defied death after being stung by the lethal Irukandji jellyfish while diving on
the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Saxon was rushed to hospital in a state of paralysis with his heart beating
erratically as a result of the jellyfish venom. Unfortunately, no antidote has
been developed to the Irukandji sting, which means that most victims go into
full respiratory arrest and perish.
Australian doctors used a magnesium based intravenous drip to stabilise Saxon's
condition. Marine biologist Maya Stranivasan was part of the team which
developed the life-saving treatment. Coincidentally, she is a cousin of the
stricken diver, but he only found out about her role in his recovery after he
telephoned her from the hospital.
The tiny Irukandji jellyfish is regarded as one of the most poisonous in the
world. As many as twenty people per year, mostly swimmers, are thought to be
killed by it's venom. However, as many victims die of what appears to be a heart
attack shortly after reaching the shore, an accurate estimate of numbers is
difficult to come by."
The above article is from "Diver" magazines' website and was
one of the many bits of media coverage which appeared after my ordeal with the
deadly Irukandji Jellyfish.
Other articles were in the Sun,
Cairns Post, Barnsley Chronicle,
Yorkshire Post, BBC Online
and many more throughout the world.
Once the story of my survival emerged a few television
companies approached me to feature in there programs. I have starred in "The Big
Sting" which was filmed by the BBC Natural History Unit for Discovery Animal
Planet America, and I was also interviewed for Bravo's "World of Pain" series.
Email me at
tim@timsaxon.co.uk
This site is © Copyright Tim Saxon 2004-2005, All Rights Reserved
site optimised by site-pro.co.uk
Steve's free web templates
|
