A desperate warning has been issued after a child picked up a deadly sea creature at a popular swimming spot.
The boy was enjoying a day in the water at Sydney‘s Woolwich Baths on Wednesday, when he came into contact with a blue-ringed octopus and picked it up.
Despite only being four to six centimetres-long, a blue-ringed octopus carries enough venom to kill 26 adults within minutes.
He was rushed to hospital as a precaution but suffered no injuries.
Hunters Hill Council warned anyone swimming at the baths over the Easter long weekend to ‘please beware’ of the danger.
The boy was enjoying a day in the water at Sydney ‘s Woolwich Baths (pictured) on Wednesday, when he came into contact with a blue-ringed octopus and picked it up.
Despite only being four to six centimetres-long, a blue-ringed octopus carries enough venom to kill 26 adults within minutes
A council spokesperson said signs had been installed to warn swimmers at the netted beach nestled among multi-million dollar homes along Sydney Harbour.
‘We always advise people to keep children under active supervision at all times in or around water,’ the spokesperson told Yahoo.
While the potentially deadly creatures are sometimes spotted in the harbour, they’re not often found as far as Woolwich, about 10km from the ocean.
The blue-ringed octopus gets its name from the vibrant blue rings that flare up when it feels threatened.
A bite from its sharp beak on its underside injects a victim with venom 1,000 times stronger than cyanide. There is no known antidote.
Adding to their dangerous arsenal is the ability to camouflage among rocks and shells.
A council spokesperson said signs had been installed to warn swimmers at the netted beach nestled among multi-million dollar homes along Sydney Harbour
Sightings of the creatures increased across Australia over summer with one teenage boy hospitalised after being bitten at Shoalwater Beach in Perth in December.
Jacob Eggington, 18, had collected a number of shells at the beach with his nephew and discovered the poisonous creature inside one.
The blue-ringed octopus left a small, painless bite mark on his leg and within 30 minutes his nervous system and lungs had started to shut down.
Miraculously, he survived the ordeal.
