The vigilance of lifeguards at Carmel Beach prevented bathers and surfers from being harmed by a poisonous fish. This morning (Saturday) station manager Ilan Shushan and lifeguard Yosef Hardon noticed a fish of the Zaharon type, swimming among the many bathers who were in the water at the time.
Zaharon, also known as the sun fish and the lion fish, is considered very poisonous and dangerous to humans. During a sting, the venom is injected into it by means of long and sharp spines on its body, which reach a length of about ten centimeters.
Hardon immediately understood the danger and that he had to act quickly. He jumped into the water, alerted the people who were only a few meters away from the fish, and managed to catch it using a special rod. The fish was then handed over to researcher and underwater photographer Motty Mendelson.
The director of the beach department in the Haifa municipality, Hilik Amsalem, praised the vigilance of the lifeguards and noted that thanks to quick, brave and professional action, they removed the danger to surfers and bathers.
The lifeguard Yosef Hardon holds the hazharon fish (photo: Haifa Municipality Spokesperson)