On April 10, a male tourist stepped on a stingray at Back Beach near Tam Thang Tower, with its venomous barb piercing his foot. He was later hospitalised as the pain intensified, spreading up his leg and causing severe swelling.
A second incident occurred on April 12, when a female tourist was stung in the same area near the bronze Ca Ong statue. The barb became lodged in her hand, and rescue workers had to cut part of it before transferring her to hospital.
Local authorities said stingrays do not typically attack humans but are commonly found in shallow coastal waters, where they bury themselves in sand while foraging, increasing the risk of accidental contact.
Beachgoers are advised to avoid touching stingrays and never handle them with bare hands, as their venomous barbs can inflict serious injuries even after the animal has died.
Common symptoms of stingray stings include bleeding, swelling, severe pain and numbness, which may last for hours and can lead to infection or tissue damage if not treated promptly.
Officials recommend that victims remain calm, return to shore and seek assistance from the nearest lifeguard station. Attempting to remove the barb without proper medical support is strongly discouraged, as it may worsen the injury or increase the risk of infection.