www.ntnews.com.au Wednesday, December 11, 2013. NT NEWS. 5

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Gig endsafter songpunch upBy ZACH HOPE

A HOT-headed male bandmember playing at a Terri--tory pub allegedly puncheda woman in the faceafter an argument over asong request.

The band was playing onFriday night when it isbelieved the woman re-quested a song the bandwas reluctant to play.

The chain of events is un-clear, but police said it end-ed with a woman, 37, beingpunched in the face.

‘‘Apparently she re-quested a song and therewas some push and shove. . . the band member re-plied with a comment shetook offence with,’’ DutySuperintendent Louise Jor-gensen said.

A member of the band,which the NT News has de-cided not to name, deniedany wrongdoing, saying the‘‘scuffle’’ was between twofemale patrons and did notinvolve them.

He said it was dark insidethe pub and he could notsee well, but recalled the in-cident was dealt withquickly by security. But thepub’s general manager con-firmed the fight involved aband member and said viol-ence at the venue would notbe tolerated.

‘‘Both parties were askedto leave and it’s my under-standing they’ve resolvedmatters amicably,’’ he said.

He said the pub wouldassess the situation beforemaking decisions about re-booking the band.

‘‘We believe it was a heatof the moment incident and(the band member) mayhave been trying to protecthis equipment,’’ he said.

The woman has so far notpressed charges.

The incident adds to awild weekend at night spots.Dr Elephant frontman Da-mien Wicks was hit with abottle at the Vic Hotel; abouncer was attacked at ThePrecinct; and a man wasbashed on Knuckey St.

Teens’ brush withdeath: stinger alert

Welts on one victim’s legs, and below, the girls put on a brave face as they are treated by ambos, and vinegar is poured on the affected areas Pictures: JAQUI DAVERN

By CONOR BYRNE

KILLERONOUR SHORES

TWO girls have been luckyto live to tell the tale afterbeing stung by deadly boxjellyfish on a Darwin beach.

The 19-year-old and13-year-old were in the waterat Casuarina Beach andneeded the help of St JohnAmbulance about 6.30pmon Sunday.

They were treated on thespot and did not require ahospital visit.

St John operations man-ager Craig Garraway saidthe only sure way to avoidstingers was to stay outof the water between Oct-ober and May, which is theseason they turn up in TopEnd waters.

‘‘It’s that time of year —stay away from the water isthe easy answer,’’ he said.

‘‘There’s no safe way to goin the water. I can’t condoneswimming or anything likethat at this time of year.’’

He said anyone on boats ornear water should carry vin-

egar to wash off tentacles.Health Department chief

health officer Dr StevenSkov said to be extra vigilantfrom October to May, but jel-lyfish stings had been re-ported in other months.

‘‘Box jellyfish don’t readcalendars,’’ Dr Skov said.

‘‘It’s about sea surface tem-peratures and humidity.They’re not totally invisible

but pretty difficult to see.’’Dr Skov said the needle-

like nematocysts containedthe venom.

‘‘Vinegar neutralises thenematocysts that haven’tdischarged. It won’t haveany effect on any venom al-ready discharged.’’

They can grow to the sizeof a hand with tentacles me-tres long.

Segway toursTHE proposed Segwaytours of the Top End havebeen given the green lightby Darwin council.

The unique tours are thebrainchild of Darwin busi-nessman Jim Hendersonwho wants to start toursaround the city, GeorgeBrown Botanic Gardensand East Point Reserveaboard the two-wheeledelectric scooters.

BOX jellyfish stings can bepreventedwith a very thinlayer on the skin, such as astinger suit or pantyhoseURINEhas no effect on stingsTENTACLES can be removedcarefullywith fingers as theskin is tougherBOX jellyfish retreat offshore

or into creeks in roughweather, but they can bebroken up inwaves andtentacles can still containvenomBOX jellyfish aremostprevalent in shallowwaterand calmwater. Boat rampsare favoured hot spots