Clueless tourist vacationing in Philippines unknowingly handles world’s deadliest octopus
A British tourist named Andy McConnell was vacationing in the Philippines when he accidentally came face‑to‑face with a blue‑ringed octopus while swimming. The creature is named after the bright blue rings that appear on its skin, which, as experts from the Australian Institute of Marine Science explain, are “beautiful and striking to look at. However, they are only displayed when the octopus is about to dispense its deadly poison.”
In a short clip, McConnell can be seen holding the octopus lightly, lunging forward whenever it tried to slip away. “I’ve never seen it before,” he told viewers, a line that captured the entire moment. Luckily the octopus stayed calm enough that it didn’t release its toxin onto his hand.
The danger lies in the tetrodotoxin produced by bacteria residing in the octopus’s salivary glands. This potent neurotoxin blocks nerve transmission, quickly paralyzing voluntary muscles while leaving the victim fully conscious. According to the National Library of Medicine, the toxin is about a thousand times more lethal to humans than cyanide.
Thankfully, McConnell avoided a near‑fatal encounter. If you ever spot a blue‑ringed octopus while swimming, the safest bet is simply to steer clear.
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