Urgent beach warning as 15 people left in agony after being stung by tiny fish

Coastguards have issued an urgent warning to all beachgoers after reports of multiple people being stung by tiny fish, leaving them in agony. In Gwynedd, North Wales - a popular holiday destination for many Mancunians - 11 people were reported to have trodden on the fish.

Weever fish are usually extremely small -lengthening at around 8cm long - and are difficult to see, especially on the beach.

Coastguards at Anglesy said the reports were 'nothing to be alarmed about', but have warned beach visitors to come equipped with footwear to protect them from the aquatic creatures. Weever fish can usually be found when the tide is low, North Wales Live reports.

READ MORE: JustEat 'nightmare' as customer charged £249 delivery fee for £11 Greggs order

They often bury themselves in the sand, leaving their poisonous dorsal spines sticking out. Wild Swim Wales reports that the pain from the spines can be as 'as bad as childbirth'

One holidaymaker whose daughter was stung by the fish wrote on Facebook: "Her screaming was unbearable and the beach wardens said grown men scream exactly like that! Literally watched loads of poison bubbles popping up all around the two areas stung.

“It also paralysed her big toe! Had to rush her down to get first aid, which was to immerse her foot in boiling/as close to boiling water as she could take for half an hour to draw the venom out.”

Another woman who was stung reported that it was the worst pain she had ever experienced and her foot "went twice its size". An 11-year-old boy needed first aid after getting stung in Barmouth two years ago.

The boy's mum said: "His toes went numb first then the pain started, he passed out and was shaking with the pain.

“The lifeguards carried him to their hut where