Blue-ringed octopus scare after girl finds deadly creature hidden in shell

A young girl has narrowly avoided coming into contact with a deadly blue-ringed octopus on a Western Australian beach.

The child had been playing with family members on Coogee Beach, south of Perth, when she collected a shell.

At home, her aunt was washing it out when she spotted the deadly creature hiding inside.

The Coogee Beach Surf Life Saving Club posted a warning to social media.

“A good reminder… about keeping watch of what you little people are collecting,” the post said.

“They look beautiful… but a bite can be deadly”. 

According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, there are multiple species of blue-ringed octopus that all feature the colourful shapes on their skin, which typically appear brighter when the animal is about to dispense its toxin.

The octopuses can range in size from four to six centimetres long and are able to project the toxic chemical tetrodoxin – which aims to paralyse targets and can be fatal for humans.

In Australia, at least two people have died after coming into contact with a blue-ringed octopus.