An influencer has told how she was stung by what she thought was a jellyfish as she posed for selfies in the surf, unaware that her attacker was actually a potentially deadly Portuguese man o’war.

The singer – known as Juliette in Brazil – was relaxing with family and friends in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba state, when she decided to record a clip for TokTok.

But as she stood in the sea, her pinkie toe was stung by what she complained was a jellyfish in the drama on 27th December.

However, commentators were quick to point out that what stung her was actually a potentially deadly Portuguese man o’war (Physalia physalis), which is not even a jellyfish, although it looks extremely similar.

Physalia physalis is actually a marine hydrozoan which is a community of separate organisms that can deliver a powerful sting capable of killing fish and also capable of killing humans.

Juliet shared the agonising pain with her 5.8 million TikTok followers.

She said: “My people… because the jellyfish didn’t catch me today.”

She continued: “You don’t know the biggest one. We went to take some pictures, I went to the edge of the water and a jellyfish grabbed my foot.

“Luckily it was only on the pinky toe, it didn’t burn much. But think of the pain, I had never been burned so badly.

“Oh Jesus, oh my God. Nobody will believe it. It was little and was very small, but if it had been big, I don’t know how terrible it would have been.”

The singer then dropped her followers an image of the jellyfish, but eagle-eyed commentators and experts confirmed it was a Portuguese man o’war.

She continued: “Then, [a friend said] ‘put pee, you have to p*** on it'”.

She then explained that her friends suggested she put numerous things on her pinky toe to relieve the pain, some of which included vinegar, milk, egg whites and beer.

Juliette then continued: “And I’m [like], ‘just put something there, for God’s sake.’

“Anyway, I put everything I found at the time. Then, the person on the beach was going to p*** on it. How? Come here, Arthur, pee here.”

But she then joked that her friend had politely declined her offer by saying: “Me? Pi***? No, I’m out.”

Experts advise that it was lucky she did not take up the idea of having someone urinate on the sting as although this might work with a regular jellyfish, it has the opposite effect with the Portuguese man o’war and makes it worse.

Likewise, alcohol also has a similar negative effect, and instead, it is advisable to use vinegar, and apply gentle heat.

Biologist Claudio Machado, also known as Papo de Cobra’ shared the singer’s post on Twitter and said: “It has probably resolved already, and it must have been light, fortunately.

“But in situations like this, the area should be washed abundantly with 5 per cent acetic acid (vinegar can be used) without rubbing the area.

“In severe cases, seek medical attention urgently.”

On the subject of urinating on the injury, Machado answered: “Do not. No way. This can, in some cases, aggravate the accident.

“Just like you shouldn’t wash with fresh water or use lemon or soap that many people do in an attempt to improve.

“Jellyfish can cause serious accidents, and these homemade techniques can make the situation worse.”