Europe’s extreme heatwave sparks invasion of STINGRAYS with PARALYSING venom

Swimmers on beaches from the Spanish coast to Italy and in Corsica have reported seeing stingrays close to the shore.

There have been at least twenty sightings so far, according to scientists who have been monitoring the movements of sharks and stingrays in regions where temperatures have soared to around 35C.

A French scientist has warned the stingrays have neurotoxic venom which can be extremely painful and in some cases partial paralysis.

Nicolas Ziani, biologist and founder of the association Groupement Phocéen d’Etude des Requins, said: “The rays are not aggressive but can sting if they feel threatened and inject their victims with neurotoxic venom.”

“I have never had so many calls as over the past three days.

“The presence of these rays so close to the shore is abnormal.”

The heatwave has made European waters warmer and it is understood to have attracted the venomous stingrays.

Female stingrays, which measure up to two metres wide and have lengthy tails carrying between one and three poisonous barbs, normally live off shore but with the heatwave are moving inshore seeking warmer water to give birth to their babies.

When threatened female rays flap their fins and stab their aggressors with their tails.

Whilst their stings are not fateful to humans they can cause partial paralysis due to the effect of venom on humans’ neurological systems.

Their strings also cause ugly swelling and bruising and hospital treatment is normally required.

Sightings have been recorded by bathers at Canet en Roussillon near Perpignan, Marseille, St Madrier sur Mer and Cogolin as well as Corsica.

According to the French newspaper, L’Independant “numerous” sightings have been made of stingrays in shallow water on beaches in Languedoc in particular.

The news comes after warmer waters have sparked a jellyfish invasion along the coast of southern England.

A surfer captured the shocking moment thousands of jellyfish invaded the waters of a Cornwall beach after days of hot weather attracted the swarm.

With temperatures hitting 30C last week experts warned of increased jellyfish numbers at British beaches.

Surfer Dave West was paddling out for a surf when he felt something brush against his hand.

At the time Mr West could not see anything beneath the water surface so he decided to pop his GoPro under the water to take a closer look.

When he got home and reviewed the footage he was shocked to discover there were thousands of jellyfish right beneath his feet.