Latest news with #hemlock
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Foragers rescued from island over fears they had eaten poisonous plant
A pair of foragers had to be rescued by lifeboats from an island as they thought they had eaten poisonous hemlock. Lifeboats were called after the 'experienced' foragers feared they had ingested the toxic plant. They were found in the eastern beach of Sully Island, off South Wales, 'showing signs of anxiety'. The pair were taken by boat to the mainland where coastguards found they had high pulse rates and were treated with oxygen. They were taken to hospital for checks and later given the all clear. Bill Kitchen, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Barry Dock RNLI, said: 'We've since been in touch and are very relieved to hear that both have made a full recovery. 'They absolutely made the right call in seeking help – in situations like this it's crucial that medical attention is sought without delay. We're very glad this had a positive outcome.' 'Notoriously poisonous plant' The Wildlife Trust describes hemlock as 'a notoriously poisonous plant' which has 'umbrella-like clusters of white flowers in summer'. The plant contains toxins that attack a person's nervous system and can be fatal. According to the trust it 'can be found in damp places, such as ditches, riverbanks and waste ground.' Sully Island is an uninhabited small island that can be accessed by foot at low tide from the village of Sully in the Vale of Glamorgan. It is 400 metres off the mainland and each year a number of visitors are rescued by lifeboats having misread the tide and become stranded.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Urgent beach warning as two Brits poisoned on UK island & rushed to A&E after eating dangerous plant with NO antidote
AN URGENT beach warning has been issued after two Brits were poisoned on a UK island and rushed to hospital. The pair has eaten a plant that contained a poison with no antidote available. 3 3 3 Emergency services rushed an island off the coast of Wales on May 3 after reports of a couple who had been poisoned. The Brits, who were on Sully Island off the Vale of Glamorgan, were thought to have ingested Hemlock - a highly poisonous plant. Sully Island is a small, uninhabited island near Barry and is about 450 metres long. The island is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, home to plenty of diverse and rare plants. It offers stunning views of the Welsh coastline and no permanent population, which meant rescue had to come from elsewhere. The RNLI's inshore lifeboats (ILBs) were deployed from Barry Dock to the eastern side of the tidal island. The rescue charity said: "Barry Dock RNLI's inshore lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard on Saturday, May 3, to locate, assess, and medevac two casualties on Sully Island reported to have potentially ingested hemlock. "The volunteer crew were advised the casualties, experienced foragers, were on the eastern beach and were located quickly. "On arrival the casualties were showing signs of anxiety so the crew immediately fitted them with lifejackets and embarked both onto the ILB for immediate transport to the mainland." Hemlock, also known as hemlock water-dropwort and hemlock root, is common in shallow water and appears like a cluster of white flowers. Urgent warning over deadly plant worse than Japanese Knotweed... do you have it near you It's often found near rivers or fresh water but can be washed up on beaches after storms. Beachgoers in Britain have been warned keep their pooches on a lead as a precautionary measure in certain spots, with four dogs having died from the plant in the Newquay, Cornwall. Thankfully for the foragers, the RNLI confirmed that after the rescue, the pair on Sully Island made a full recovery. They said: 'Once ashore they were handed to Barry coastguard rescue team (CRT) who identified elevated pulse rates. "Oxygen was prepared from the ILB's supply with an RNLI crew member staying to assist the CRT with care. 'The officer in charge remained in contact with the ambulance service while the crew monitored the casualties. "As the tide fell the ILB could not remain on scene so with their condition stable and a plan in place Barry Dock ILB stood down returned to station and was made ready for service while the casualties were taken to A&E.' SYMPTOMS OF HEMLOCK POISONING Hemlock poisoning will show symptoms after around 30 minutes, or up to 3 hours. The plant can cause a painful rash or burning on the eyes if touched. Ingesting any part of the plant can lead to poisoning which can lead to respiratory failure. Symptoms include: Trembling Burning sensation in digestive tract Increased salivation Dilated pupils Muscle pain and weakness Decreased heart rate Loss of speech Convulsions Unconsciousness If you believe you have symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately. If possible, take a sample of the plant if it's safe do to so by using plastic gloves - or take photos. Do not try and make the infected throw up. What Are Hemlock Roots? Hemlock Roots may look like a "beautiful" flower, but they hold a deadly secret. The plant, which looks like a parsnip, could be lethal to humans and animals. Hemlock could easily kill if it was eaten as it contains fatal toxins. The toxins grow naturally and include coniine and a gamma-coniceine, which cause muscular paralysis. Anyone who ingests the harmful plant could end up with respiratory failure - which could lead to death. Only a tiny amount of Hemlock can prove fatal to a human or to livestock. It usually grows in wet, marshy places and is often confused for its non-poisonous lookalikes such as wild carrots or parsnips. If accidentally eaten, symptoms of poisoning include seizures, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tremors, confusion, weakness or dizziness. The plant was previously found on a beach in Cornwall following a storm.
Sky News
13-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Sully Island: Foragers rescued from Welsh island after eating suspected poisonous plant
Two people had to be rescued from a Welsh island after eating a suspected poisonous plant. The pair were "showing signs of anxiety" after consuming what is believed to be hemlock, the RNLI said. A crew was sent from Barry Dock to Sully Island, off the coast of Swanbridge in South Wales. Hemlock is a poisonous plant with umbrella-like clusters of white flowers in the summer. The plant, which produces a repellent smell when its leaves are crushed, can be fatal even in small amounts. The experienced foragers were found on the eastern beach on Saturday 3 May and were immediately taken for treatment back on the mainland. They were given oxygen by the Barry Coastguard Rescue Team, who identified elevated pulse rates. Bill Kitchen, lifeboat operations manager at Barry Dock RNLI said in a statement it had been "in touch" with the pair and were "relieved to hear that both have made a full recovery". "They absolutely made the right call in seeking help - in situations like this, it's crucial that medical attention is sought without delay. We're very glad this had a positive outcome," he added.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Foragers rescued from Welsh island after eating suspected hemlock
Two experienced foragers had to be rescued from a small Welsh island after eating suspected poisonous hemlock. Barry Dock RNLI sent a crew to Sully Island, off the coast of Swanbridge in south Wales, where they found two people 'showing signs of anxiety'. It is believed the two people had ingested hemlock, a poisonous plant with umbrella-like clusters of white flowers in summer, which produces a repellent smell when its leaves are crushed. Hemlock can be fatal even in small amounts, affecting the body's nervous system, eventually causing death by respiratory failure. The pair, who were found on the eastern beach on Saturday May 3, were immediately returned to the mainland for treatment, where they were handed to Barry Coastguard Rescue Team. The rescue team identified elevated pulse rates and provided the pair with oxygen. In a statement, Bill Kitchen, lifeboat operations manager at Barry Dock RNLI said: 'We've since been in touch and are very relieved to hear that both have made a full recovery. 'They absolutely made the right call in seeking help – in situations like this, it's crucial that medical attention is sought without delay. We're very glad this had a positive outcome.'
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sully Island: Forages rescued after potentially eating hemlock
A pair of experienced foragers had to be rescued from an island after potentially eating poisonous hemlock, coastguards have Dock RNLI sent a lifeboat crew to Sully Island, off the Vale of Glamorgan coast, where the foragers were found in an anxious state. They were moved from the island's eastern beach to the mainland where Barry Coastguard Rescue Team found they had high pulse rates and put them on oxygen. Hemlock with its umbrella-like clusters of white flowers looks and smells like parsley and has toxins that can cause death by attacking a person's nervous system. The foragers were rushed to A&E and the coastguard was stood down. "We've since been in touch and are very relieved to hear that both have made a full recovery," said Barry Dock lifeboat operations manager Bill Kitchen. "They absolutely made the right call in seeking help – in situations like this, it's crucial that medical attention is sought without delay. "We're very glad this had a positive outcome."
