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Post by Kinygos on Aug 2, 2009 14:57:13 GMT
At the risk of being a killjoy can I ask those of you going to Pondamus, possibly with your children, to paddle, play Frisbee, ball, or swim to wear something on your feet? Most of you fear the sea urchin, which is only found on rocks, and, to put it mildly, is not a fast moving creature. You also fear the jellyfish, which is easily seen. Let me introduce you to the Weevers. They love sandy beaches. You will not easily see them. They move about quickly. If you tread on one of them, it WILL ruin your holiday. The most toxic is the Lesser Weever. It turns up in the fishermen’s nets quite a bit, but I have not seen them at Pondamus; which does not mean it is absent. It is common on the East Anglian coast.  This pretty fish is very common at Pondamus; the Spotted Weever. I caught this one on my old boat. The method used was fly-fishing. I was anchored in about two meters of water, and I cast the small shrimp fly pattern between people disporting themselves in the shallows. I suspect the action of feet stirring up the sand, and the associated invertebrates, attracted them. They are not easy to tread on, thankfully, but if you do, it will feel like you have trodden in a piece of glass. Then the pain begins; it is agonising and spreads proximally. The treatment is immediate application of heat; e.g. a spoon, which has been immersed in boiling water pressed on the wound. Whatever you do Greek dancing will be impossible for a couple of weeks and walking will be difficult. A friend who trod on one in a rock pool in Norfolk went to hospital. He lay on a bed surrounded by nurses and junior doctors. Having assessed the time elapsed since the incident the casualty doctor told him that he would shortly begin to shake uncontrollably; convulsions. My friend asked what they were going to do, and was told that there was nothing that could be done at that stage, but the assembled audience had not seen it happen and did he mind if they watched? Please take care, and have a safe holiday. |
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Post by kathy on Aug 2, 2009 15:58:39 GMT
Thank you for the timely reminder!
I have been out looking for jelly shoes today,but couldn't get them for everyone. It has been mentioned we may be able to buy them in Halki, but I really need to know for certain before we travel ....does anybody know for sure?
Otherwise it will have to be pumps!
I really appreciate your advice and caution, having seen and read your post, we won't take any chances!! ;D ;D
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Post by Liz on Aug 2, 2009 16:04:45 GMT
Kathy try Primark or new look for the jellies -I'm sure they had them last week in Liverpool ..or Tesco or Asda for the Croc type  |
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Post by carol on Aug 2, 2009 16:15:52 GMT
Failing that Kathy the larger of the "supermarkets" and Rias shop will surely have them or the rubber boot version ;D
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johnr
Full Member
Posts: 99
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Post by johnr on Aug 2, 2009 16:43:59 GMT
About 15 years ago, I saw a little girl carted off in some pain after stepping on a Weever. The bad news is that it confimrs that you can definitely get stung at Pondamos; the good news, if you can call it that, is that although she was only about seven, she had no lasting ill effects.
The venom is apparently simliar stuff to scorpion venom.
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Post by kathy on Aug 2, 2009 17:01:22 GMT
The ones I got were from Primark a couple of weeks ago, they didn't have a size 4 though for the one with little feet! I didn't try New Look, I will send said teenager into town to look this week. I must have tried everywhere else though, I didn't expect it to be so difficult! We went to T.J's today, they stock most things ....all they had was one pair of size 6.  Failing that, I will try in Halki. Thanks for the help! ;D ;D |
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Post by aegina1943 on Aug 2, 2009 17:03:15 GMT
Quite a few stung there in May/June. I got my jellies in "big" supermarket on Halki.
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Post by Kinygos on Aug 2, 2009 17:32:34 GMT
It would appear that the warning was not timely after all.
I suspect that Mr Spotty is not so bad as the Lesser, thankfully I cannot offer a comparison as I have not been hit by either.
Wet suit boots, or salt-water flyfishing wading boots in “Neoprene” afford perfect protection for them, the urchins, and the rocks. Unfortunately, they are not as fashionable as "Crocs"!
On the plus side Weevers make good soup; ask Nick!
Do Lynne & Pete warn you about them?
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Post by carol on Aug 2, 2009 18:09:20 GMT
Simon, I think
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Post by Liz on Aug 2, 2009 18:12:17 GMT
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Post by carol on Aug 2, 2009 18:14:21 GMT
Simon, I think I may have to give the salt water fly fishing wading boots a miss this year, maybe next year  Only kidding, these things are nasty and we should all wear protective shoes in the water, we dont want any holidays ruined. I have got some very snazzy rubber shoes with pink tops bought from Ria a couple of years ago, they match the flowery swimming hat ;D ;D |
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Post by carol on Aug 2, 2009 18:15:25 GMT
No, the finger worked faster than the brain  no surprise to those of you who know me ;D |
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Post by Kinygos on Aug 2, 2009 18:27:12 GMT
Who could resist a pair of cutie booties like these?  Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm sexy! |
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Post by stuartg on Aug 3, 2009 6:22:40 GMT
You could try any of these things - OR you could just go to Ftenagia (I like it better anyway).
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Post by lynn on Aug 3, 2009 11:07:12 GMT
My OH was stung/hit/mauled/spiked by a weaver fish a few years ago in Zakynthos  . I have to be fair and say here, in black and white for all to see that he is NOT a coward and has an extremely high pain threshold BUT that weaver fish saw him in absolute agony. We had to get a taxi to the hospital where they had to fish around in the wound with an hypodermic needle and he was in a lot of pain throughout. Please be careful everyone. |
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. I have to be fair and say here, in black and white for all to see that he is NOT a coward and has an extremely high pain threshold BUT that weaver fish saw him in absolute agony. We had to get a taxi to the hospital where they had to fish around in the wound with an hypodermic needle 