Surge in number of men o'war being washed up on beaches Last weekend a member of the public contacted Cornwall Council about a small number of what MCS identified as Portuguese man o'war washed up at Portheras Cove. We then had reports of similar sightings as Summerleaze and Widemouth beaches. Our most recent reports were from Portheras yesterday. With the earlier standings in Ireland, these recent sightings could herald the arrival of more of the creatures as they get blown in from the Atlantic. Until recent years their normal habitats were the seas of the Florida Keys, the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Caribbean and the Pacific. The man o'war earned its name because its airbag resembles the sail of a 16th century Portuguese warship. The airbag is about 12 inches long and five inches wide, beneath it are blue tentacles which can be more than 30 feet long and deliver an agonising and potentially lethal sting. "Because a stranded Portuguese Man of War looks a bit like a deflating purple balloon with blue ribbons attached, it may attract the curiosity of children," Dr Richardson added. If you are visiting a Cornish beach this weekend it is well worth making sure you know what these animals look like and that no one picks them up. Rebecca Kirk, from Cornwall Council's public health and protection service, added: "A sting fmay lead to an allergic reaction. There can also be serious effects, including fever and shock. Anyone who thinks they have been stung should seek medical attention immediately or contact NHS direct. Even though they are washed up on the beach they can still present a possible risk of stinging and parents are advised to ensure children avoid touching them. Similar warnings have been given the Irish Water Safety organisation after the men o'war were seen on beaches in Waterford and Cork. Despite looking like a jellyfish the Portuguese Man O' War (Physalia physalis) is not even a single creature but a floating colony of hydrozoans - tiny marine organisms living together and behaving collectively.