Child dies after jellyfish sting at Subic beach resort

Kiera Maningding’s lower body after the jellyfish stinging incident at a beach resort inside the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone last month which led to her death. (Contributed photo)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — A five-year-old child died after being stung by a jellyfish while swimming at All Hands Beach resort in San Bernardo, Olongapo City, late last month.

Kiera Maningding was swimming at the beach shore on June 28 when she was stung by a jellyfish. Her mother, Jahaziel Michaellie Maningding, said there were no warnings about the potential danger of jellyfish in the water despite recent incidents.

Resort staff and a bystander administered first aid by pouring vinegar on Kiera’s legs, but there was no vehicle available to take her to the hospital immediately.

Another resort-goer eventually helped transport Kiera to Allied CareExperts Medical Center-Baypointe, where she was intubated but later died from anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.

READ: PH ‘Ground Zero’ for lethal jellyfish stings, says expert

Jahaziel criticized the resort for being ill-prepared to handle such emergencies, noting the lack of an available vehicle at the time of the incident.

All Hands Beach legal counsel Josefina Buena disputed this claim, stating the resort does have a vehicle and driver, but they were occupied at the time.

Buena described the incident as an “isolated case,” noting that the resort conducts regular clearing operations of jellyfish in the swimming area.

“This is just an isolated case. Not all of the people who swim have been stung by a jellyfish. But, as we say, accidents do happen and no one wanted this to happen,” Buena said.