Stingers invade Coast beach, 25 stung in an hour

BLUEBOTTLE jellyfish have invaded the Sunshine Coast at the weekend with a significant spike in the prevalence of stingers.

Fifty-two people were treated for stings on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, with 25 coming in a one-hour period off Kings Beach.

Forty were treated at Coolum Beach across the weekend.

Queensland-wide, there were 487 bluebottle stings reported to lifesavers on Saturday.

A Surf Life Saving Queensland spokesman said these numbers were high compared to recent weekends, but were on par with the numbers usually reported during the stinger season.