Deadly jellyfish stings on paradise island

Summary
30 December 2009

The British man chosen from more than 30,000 applicants to look after an island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef has survived being stung by a deadly jellyfish on Hamilton Island.

Reporter:
Phil Mercer


CLICK PLAY BUTTON TO LISTEN




REPORT


Ben Southall, the man with the best job in the world, struck trouble in paradise when he felt a small bee-like sting on his arm, as he was getting off a jet ski. The 34 year-old Briton later noticed a tingling sensation in his hands and feet, before developing a severe headache, back pain and high blood pressure. The culprit was a tiny but extremely poisonous Irukandji jellyfish. It may only be the size of a peanut, but it has killed unwary swimmers in the past.

Ben is recovering and is in the final week of his contract, where he's been employed by Australian tourism officials to promote the wonders of the Queensland coast.

Phil Mercer, BBC News, Sydney


CLICK PLAY BUTTON TO LISTEN TO WORDS REVIEW




VOCABULARY

> struck trouble in paradise
had difficulties in what seems like an ideal location

> sting
an animal (here a jellyfish) produces a small but painful injury, usually with a poison, by brushing against the someone or another animal's skin

> a tingling sensation
a feeling as if a lot of sharp points are being put quickly and lightly into your body or onto your skin

> severe
very serious, causing a lot of pain

> high blood pressure
the pressure at which the blood flows through the body is high (high or low blood pressure can make you ill)

> poisonous
very harmful and able to make you very ill or kill you

> jellyfish
sea animal with a soft oval almost transparent (see-through) body

> the size of a peanut
very small (a peanut is a small oval-shaped nut that grows under the ground inside a thin brown shell)

> unwary
not aware of or careful about possible risks and dangers

> contract
formal agreement to work for a company or person for a period of time



Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2009/12/091230_witn_jellyfish.shtml