As beautiful as our planet is, it contains so many horrific and painful ways to kill you. Excluding physical injuries such as falls that can happen anywhere, here’s a list of the most painful experiences you can have while out in the wild.
1) Stepping on a stonefish
Coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific
This crusty looking floor dweller hides itself under the sand and tries to disguise itself as a stone, hence the name. When a smaller fish swims close enough above it, the stone fish will lunge up at lighting speed and swallow it whole.
The problem with this fish is that its one of the most venomous fish in the world, and delivers its toxins through a serious of spines running down the center of its back. When they are in camouflage mode they are near impossible to see for anyone wading through the water, and if you step on one you’re guaranteed to receive a large does of its venom.
The venom takes a while to kill someone and the antidote is stocked in any coastal health facility in the regions stonefish can be found, but the problem is the pain. Every single person stung by one has said it is the worse physical pain they have ever felt, comparing it to hot needles being twisted through your veins while your leg is on fire. Apparently victims sometimes request the affected limb to be cut off to save them from the pain, something that they are glad the doctors didn’t do after receiving a simple injection.
2) Bullet Ant
Most regions between Honduras and Paraguay
This one is well known for being the most painful insect sting you can possible receive. Growing up to 1.2 inches long, they rarely attack people and only do so if they feel threatened. The biggest problem is that they are never alone, and if one attacks then thousands attack, with each sting said to be around 30 times more painful than that of a bee’s.
The intense pain lasts for 12 to 24 hours and doesn’t normally require medical attention other than for some painkillers. However if the victim has been stung many times the venom can cause weakness and paralysis, which in extreme cases can see the victim collapse right into a swarm of bullet ants. The other especially nasty thing about these creatures is that they aren’t limited to how many times they can sting like bee’s are, if an angry ant catches you it can bite over and over again, each time delivering more venom.
3) Tarantula Hawk
Most countries below the equator
This type of wasp seems to be spreading from its native regions and has began to spread further north, with the US seeing them in some of their southern states. It got its name from its preferred prey which is the tarantula, and it goes without saying that any small flying insect that hunts giant spiders isn’t to be messed with.
The sting can grow up to 1/3 of an inch and delivers a huge amount of venom for its size. The amount of venom within each sting is enough to kill a tarantula but not a human, and its also a very rapid acting poison.
If you get stung by one of these then the pain will start instantly but only last for no more than five minutes. The venom acts very quickly and aggressively but dissipates quite fast, so the intense pain wont last long enough for you to make it to a hospital, and they aren’t deadly unless you happen to be allergic. The pain is said to be so intense that people have been known to faint from it, with there being nothing you can do to ease the suffering other than waiting until it fades.
4) Box Jellyfish
Australia and several regions to its north
This fascinating creature is one of natures wonders, seemingly lacking vital organs and even a brain but possessing the ability to create light. Unfortunately there are certain species of the Box Jellyfish that are so poisonous that contact with two metres of tentacles can deliver enough poison to kill an adult in under two minutes.
The venom is not only intensely painful but also has the ability to stop someones heart. The more venom you receive the higher the chance your heart will have of stopping and since it acts so quickly there’s little chance you’ll make it to treatment in time.
It is possible to survive a sting from a box jellyfish so long as you don’t have any heart problems and only received a few stings. As for what it feels like, survivors have compared it to hundreds of bee stings in a tight line across the affected area, accompanied by an extreme burning sensation.
5) The Viper
Most of the world except the Arctic circle, Australia, New Zealand and various isolated southern islands.
This snake comes in many different species, each of which have their own strength of venom. Some of the stronger viper venom’s can kill someone in as little as 10 minutes, though the average time is any were between 30 and 60 minutes.
There is an anti-venom but if the snake delivers a high enough concentration you probably wont make it to a hospital in time. There is also no way of judging how much venom you received in a bite, as they can choose how much venom they attack with, including a “dry” bite which is purely a warning bite and no venom at all is passed onto the victim.
The venom causes extreme pain and swelling and can make the victim feel intensely sick and even cause paralysis. Its said to be the most painful of all snake bites and apart from the feeling around the area of the bite, victims often spend their journey to hospital throwing up and experiencing what feels like the worst hangover of their lives.