A Sunshine Coast resident has learned the hard way just how painful it can be to come into contact with a local tree.
Tony Nixon was taking a casual walk along a bush track at a popular park when his hand brushed up against a benign-looking leafy tree – the encounter caused excruciating pain.
“Each sting feels like a wasp sting,” Mr Nixon said as he showed off the swollen red welts on his hand.
“Painful, as I found out when my hand brushed through.”
The Australian Geographic website described the gympie-gympie as “one of the world’s most venomous plants” that can “cause months of excruciating pain”.
The sting is ‘like acid’, with some victims requiring hospitalisation.
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The concern is that the tree is common in Queensland rainforests – including in Sunshine Coast rural communities.
Mr Nixon immediately posted a warning on his local community’s Facebook page, Welcome to Palmwoods.
“Please be careful in the rainforest walk near the duck pond,” he said.
“Lots of gympie-gympie. It’s above my waist and would be face-high for a toddler.”
Mr Nixon is thankful the encounter wasn’t worse: “I seem to have got off lightly. It’s already settled down a lot.”
Sunshine Coast Council acted after being informed of the incident and has offered advice to residents.
“We are sorry to hear a resident has come out in welts and have removed the gympie-gympie tree in Kolora Park (Palmwoods),” a spokesperson said.
“This tree is common in rainforests across the Sunshine Coast, particularly in areas that have been disturbed, such as along the edge of paths.
“Our advice to anyone who comes across the tree is to not touch it and report its location to council so it can be removed.”
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