Exclusive: Deadly blue-ringed octopus found at popular Sydney beach

A nature photographer has made a deadly discovery after stumbling across a blue-ringed octopus in the water just metres away from children at a popular Sydney beach.

Jehan Elomari was visiting Coogee beach on Sunday when she noticed the venomous animal between the rocks at the McIver Women's Baths.

“I was walking around looking for something to shoot and became shocked when I saw the blue-ringed octopus in the water,” she told nine.com.au.

“It wasn’t aggressive or anything, but when it saw me, it climbed out from under the rock before it camouflaged itself and disappeared into some seaweed.

“I put a stick in the water to move the seaweed and I could see the markings on the octopus so clearly – they really started to shine.”

READ MORE: The deadly creature potentially on every Australian beach

Ms Elomari said it was a great moment to be able to capture a photograph of the animal, but admitted she knew the need to be cautious.

“I know that they are very dangerous so I made sure I didn’t get too close. There were also some kids playing around the rocks where I saw it, so I told them to move,” she said.

The blue-ringed-octopus, of the Hapalochlaena genus, is typically found in waters surrounding Australia and Japan and can be identified by the bright rings on their flesh.

Ranging in size from four to six centimetres long, the blue-ringed octopus has colourful markings which appear brighter when the animal is about to dispense its toxin.

Listed as one of the most venomous animals in the world, the blue-ringed octopus has a fast-acting toxin that can cause full-body paralysis or kill a victim within minutes if untreated.

Despite the dangers, fatalities from blue-rings are very rare with only three recorded deaths from Australia in the past century.

A spokesman from the Coogee lifeguards said while blue-ringed octopuses had been removed in the past, they had not been notified of the sighting over the weekend.

“If one is found in a location that is a risk to public safety, our advice is to notify the lifeguards who can remove or it contact someone who can,” he said.

“Under no circumstance should anyone touch the octopus or try to remove it themselves.”