"Don't Touch It Under Any Circumstances, or You'll Be in Serious Trouble"... Britain in Uproar After '1,000 Times More Toxic Than Cyanide' Pufferfish Found

Highly venomous pufferfish found on UK beach
Authorities warn: "Do not touch it under any circumstances"

A pufferfish capable of carrying venom up to 1,000 times more potent than cyanide has been found on a beach in the UK, prompting warnings to the public. Local authorities warned that toxins may remain in its skin and internal organs even after it dies, and urged people not to touch it under any circumstances.

A highly venomous pufferfish found at Knoll Beach in Studland, Dorset, UK. Photo: BNPS/The Sun (UK)

According to British newspaper The Sun on November 2, a pufferfish was found at Knoll Beach in Studland, Dorset, UK. The fish was reportedly discovered by diver Owen Booty, who runs the marine experience company Freedive Life, while walking along the beach.

Booty had been unable to go into the water because the sea was rough. While walking along the beach, he spotted an object in the distance that looked like a small buoy or plastic bag. When he went closer to investigate, he found a pufferfish with its body swollen into a round shape. The fish was about 17 inches (43 cm) long and was already dead when it was found.

"I spend a lot of time diving off the Dorset coast and have encountered a wide variety of marine life, but I never expected to find a pufferfish on the beach," he said.

It may have traveled hundreds of kilometers due to storms

It is rare for pufferfish to be found off the British coast. They mainly live in tropical and subtropical waters, including the warm waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.

Experts suggested that the pufferfish may have been swept hundreds of kilometers from its usual habitat to the British coast by the recent storms Austin and Boalo. However, its exact route and the reason it came ashore have not been confirmed.

A highly venomous pufferfish found at Knoll Beach in Studland, Dorset, UK. BNPS, The Sun, UK.

Dead pufferfish are still dangerous... venom remains in skin and organs

When threatened, pufferfish protect themselves by filling their bodies with water or air and swelling into a round shape. This makes them larger and harder for predators to swallow.

But more dangerous still are the toxic substances they carry. The natural toxins in pufferfish are known to be up to 1,000 times more deadly than cyanide.

Even after a pufferfish has died, toxins remaining in its skin and internal organs can persist for a long time. If a person is pricked by one of the fish's hidden sharp spines, the toxin can enter the bloodstream directly and pose a life-threatening risk. In addition, if the internal organs are damaged during preparation and toxins seep into the edible parts, this can cause fatal poisoning.

A Dorset wildlife conservation group urged people who find a pufferfish on the coast not to touch it and to report it to the relevant authorities immediately.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.