Tourists warned not to touch strange blue-tentacled creatures washed ashore on British beach

By ALESIA FIDDLER - TRAVEL REPORTER Published: 09:22, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 11:25, 31 July 2026 Unusual jellyfish-like creatures with bright blue tentacles and body have washed up on a British beach.  The unique organism, called Velella velella or 'by-the-wind-sailor', has been spotted on St Bees beach in Cumbria.  Known as a colonial hydroid, they get around by using their sail fins to drift on the wind and ocean currents. Oval in shape and up to 10cm in length, the creatures are usually seen between September and March. They feed on small fish and have stinging tentacles. Cumbria Wildlife Trust shared images of by-the-wind-sailors on St Bees and explained: 'They're called by-the-wind-sailors and, as the romantic name suggests, they spend their lives drifting on the wind.  'They're also NOT true jellyfish, despite the very jellyfishy appearance. 'The truth is much stranger – each sailor is a colony of polyps working as a single entity, with different kinds of polyps having different functions, like feeding, reproduction and defence.' Known as Velella velella or 'by-the-wind-sailor', the unusual creatures have washed up on St Bees beach in Cumbria  The organisation noted that the creatures 'bear a resemblance' to Portuguese Man O'War – which is a colonial hydrozoan with a nasty sting. In comparison, the Wildlife Trust shared how by-the-wind-sailors are 'much smaller and generally harmless to humans (though we'd still recommend that you don't touch)'. Images of the creatures show a translucent sail fin standing diagonally across the blue, slimy body.  Deep blue tentacles can be seen sprayed out in the sand.  Thousands of the unique creature washed up along southern California beaches in April too.  Meanwhile, earlier this month tourists were warned of the dangers of toxic pufferfish with razor-sharp teeth that invaded British holiday hotspots in the Mediterranean. The silver-cheeked toadfish was spotted across Greece, where panicked officials rushed to erect extensive sea barriers to keep them away from swimmers. With fang-like teeth that can tear through bone, wood and metal, the Greek Red Cross issued an urgent alert over the aggressive invasive species. As well as a savage bite, the pufferfish's flesh and organs are potentially lethal as it contains the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, which can cause heart and lung failure if ingested. The creatures get around by using their sail fins to drift on the wind and ocean currents Although typically found in the Indian Ocean, the species has invaded the Mediterranean after it is believed they followed warming seas by swimming up through the Suez Canal from the Red Sea. Cypriot fishermen were first to spot that their catch and nets were being decimated below the water.  And while they have been in the Mediterranean since as early as 2003, their population has blossomed in recent years – especially in areas like top holiday destination Rhodes – and can be found as far west as Italy and Spain. Their brutal bite has been felt by humans, with increasing reports of attacks on swimmers. Just last week, an elderly Greek woman was left needing stitches after one of the fish unexpectedly lunged at her in Varkiza, near Athens.