SCIENCE

Deadly puffer fish found on the beach in Cornwall

It is thought one fish can carry enough toxin to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote
It is thought one fish can carry enough toxin to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote
CONSTANCE MORRIS/PEN NEWS

A rare and highly venomous puffer fish that contains a poison 1,200 times more deadly than cyanide has washed up on a British beach.

Constance Morris found the fish, an oceanic puffer, on Towan beach in Newquay, Cornwall, while on a family holiday on Saturday. She had rubber gloves with her and scooped up the fish so it could be examined.

According to National Geographic, almost all puffer fish contain tetrodotoxin, one of the most deadly poisons in nature. It is thought one fish can carry enough toxin to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote.

There are several species of puffer fish, including the oceanic puffer, which can inflate to several times their normal size
There are several species of puffer fish, including the oceanic puffer, which can inflate to several times their normal size
ALAMY

Experts say it is very unusual to find one on British shores and Morris, who collects specimens for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, failed to recognise it.