Sunset Beach warns visitors after Portuguese Man o’ Wars wash up on the beach

SUNSET BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The Sunset Beach Fire Department is sharing a warning after multiple Portuguese Man o’ Wars washed up along the shoreline this week.

The fire department said if you see one, stay away and notify Beach Rescue for removal. Do not touch them, a man o’ war may still sting you even weeks after having washed ashore.

The tentacles contain stinging nematocysts, microscopic capsules loaded with coiled, barbed tubes that deliver venom capable of paralyzing and killing small fish and crustaceans. While the man o’ war’s sting is rarely deadly to people, it packs a painful punch and causes welts on exposed skin, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.