It was a lucky day for one Fremantle beachgoer after she found a blue-ringed octopus in her bathers on Thursday.
Lisa Bryant was swimming at South Beach when she found a shell and tucked it into her bathers for safekeeping.
It is something she often does on her daily swims but this time was different as she began to feel irritation once back on the beach.
“I pulled the shell out and the blue-ringed octopus was coming out — I sort of squealed and dropped it,” Ms Bryant said.
Despite its small size — the one pictured estimated at 7cm — the creature can cause serious damage to humans even leading to death.
The bite doesn’t cause pain and puncture marks may not be visible, according to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
Numbness will be experienced, and it may become difficult to speak or see.
“I had a quick look to see if there were any marks and I had a little scratch,” Ms Bryant said.
“I started to freak and everybody on the beach was freaking out and telling me to go to the hospital.”
Lucky for Ms Bryant the creature hadn’t bitten her.
As a habit, she shakes shells that are enclosed but nothing appeared when she did that this time.
“In hindsight, it’s really something you shouldn’t do,” she said.
“If you are swimming around South Beach don’t be tempted to souvenir any shells from the sea bed.”
The creature was released by another beachgoer away from swimmers.
The DBCA said to be extremely cautious when handling shells, discarded rubbish, and rocks from reef flats and tidal pools as the blue-ringed octopus may be hidden inside them.
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