![\"Velella](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_306973820-75ed.jpg\")
\n\t\tVelella (velella velella) or by-the-wind sailor washed up on the beach (Picture: Shutterstock \/ Kelly Nine)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tVelella (velella velella) or by-the-wind sailor washed up on the beach (Picture: Shutterstock \/ Kelly Nine)<\/p>\n
If you were to go down to the beach today you may find a wobbly surprise.<\/p>\n
Thousands of bright electric blue creatures, thought to be Velella Velella, have washed ashore after a scorching heatwave<\/a> this summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n The creatures dubbed \u2018alien<\/a> jellyfish\u2019 are normally found in exotic climes like Portugal or the Caribbean but over the weekend it was St Bees beach in Cumbria that was overrun.<\/p>\n Louise Nicholson nearly mistook one of the strange creatures for a mound of seaweed.<\/p>\n Speaking to\u00a0BBC<\/a>\u00a0Cumbria<\/a>, she said: \u2018There were hundreds of them and there were lots of visitors to the area taking photos.<\/p>\n \u2018They are absolutely beautiful, only about 2ins in size. It was a great find on a beautiful day.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t The organisms have a \u2018sail\u2019 which they use to travel across oceans, and normally roll into strange territories in the wake of a storm.<\/p>\n They are harmless to humans \u2013 but beachcombers have been warned to be aware.<\/p>\n \t\t Velella velella, known as By-the-wind Sailors, haven\u2019t been swept here in such huge numbers in more than a decade.<\/p>\n But although the two-inch creatures are related to the deadly Portugese man \u2018o war, the worst they offer people is a mild sting.<\/p>\n The electric blue creatures are \u2018colonial hydroids\u2019 \u2013 meaning they\u2019re not jellyfish but a colony of tiny individual animals.<\/p>\n They live partly in and partly out of the water with a sail held in the wind and tentacles dangling in the water to catch plankton.<\/p>\n \t\t Conservationist Steve Trewhella said: \u2018They only wash up after prolonged gales and storms.<\/p>\n \u2018Because they travel in the same way, in theory Portugese man o\u2019 wars could come in as well, and that would be something to worry about. They pose a real threat and can kill people in the water.<\/p>\n \u2018We are noticing a trend in these unusual marine animals coming into our shores on a more regular basis recently. It\u2019s because our weather<\/a> appears to be changing.<\/p>\n \u2018Velella velella are deep blue or purple in colour and often cause confusion if they wash in, in vast numbers, creating a blue beach.\u2019<\/p>\n Marine specialist Frankie Hobro, owner of Anglesey Sea Zoo in Bynsiencyn, said their sting is \u2018mild\u2019 in comparison to their cousins \u2013 the deadly Portuguese<\/a> man o\u2019 war.<\/p>\n \u2018If you touched your lips, face or another sensitive area, it could be quite painful and cause a tingling sensation,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n \u2018What is slightly worrying is that Portuguese Man o\u2019 War are arriving earlier in the year and more frequently, overlapping with marine creatures like By-the-wind-sailors. It shows how climate change<\/a> is affecting ocean currents.\u2019<\/p>\n Temperatures could reach 35C in the South East on Monday, according to the Met Office, higher than forecasts for the islands of Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini.<\/p>\n Much of central and southern England is set to see highs in the upper 20s to low 30s before temperatures ease slightly later in the week.<\/p>\n The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat-health alerts for the East Midlands, East of England, South East and London from Monday until Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"BNPS.co.uk](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ad_190321763-e1449823719761.jpg\")
\n\t\tVelella velella have a \u2018sail\u2019 they use to travel across oceans (Picture: BNPS)<\/p>\n![\"BNPS.co.uk](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ad_190321893-e1449823691663.jpg\")
\n\t\tExperts say it is the biggest influx in a decade (Picture: BNPS)<\/p>\n![\"BNPS.co.uk](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ad_190322274-e1449823706561.jpg\")
\n\t\tThey are known as \u2018By-the-wind Sailors\u2019 (Picture: BNPS)<\/p>\n
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