In Washington, a woman who placed a baby octopus (believed to be a Giant Pacific) on her face for a photo was bit and injected with venom. We're sure you can see where this is going. The beak of the octopus is well hidden in between the arms or the tentacles. Cutaneous ulceration after an octopus bite: infection due to Vibrio alginolyticus, an emerging pathogen. You can see more content from Dan Europe from their regular column, or check out the DAN website for more information about medical advice and diver insurance. It's uncommon for pet ball snakes to bite, but it's possible. Is your bug bite from a wolf spider, or something else? The home-kept species often seem to enjoy a short petting session if they acclimate to humans, she said. 3 Safety Considerations For New Wreck Divers. The beak of the octopus is used for eating and works like a scissor. 2022 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. Most of the time theyre yellow or sand-colored, but bright blue rings appear on their body when theyre about to strike. 2008; 135(3): 225-27. It proceeds to latch itself onto the leg of the diver while attempting to swim back down to the ocean floor. Swelling appeared within 30 minutes and became severe within about an hour. Under Red and Orange, you must be fully vaccinated on the date of any training and produce a current My Vaccine Pass either digitally or on paper. If 30 minutes or more have passed since the blue-octopus bite, the pressure immobilization technique is not likely to be helpful. How Many Suction Cups Does an Octopus Have. Since the blue-ringed octopus is not an aggressive marine animal, most cases of bites are from a person picking up and handling the octopus, or stepping on it in a sandy beach area. Hippopotamus (1,800 psi) 5. Virtual reality wreck dive at GO Diving Show, Bruce the only shark you should be riding. Theyll strike only if they feel threatened. Infection can impair healing and lead to significant tissue damage. Thankfully, that particular sport went out of style in the late 60s, but it seems that we still haven't quite learned our lesson. (Hopefully, medical care can be received within this time period.). A bite from a blue-ringed octopus, however, can be fatal, as they are highly poisonous creatures. Thankfully, the Giant Pacific Octopus is known to be rather shy and usually friendly towards humans, rarely using its dangerous features to inflict harm. Earth is home to about 8.7 million species. Theres no antivenom for a blue-ringed octopus bite. The wound bled moderately, and the diver rinsed it first with saltwater and then 40 minutes later with soap and fresh water. Octopus Force When octopuses attack, its rarely because they want to eat you. 4-Aminopyridine is another drug reported to reverse tetrodotoxin effects in experimental animals; however, it has been used in patients with. Many researchers believe, beak to beak mating is advantageous to the female that is guarding her eggs. These cephalopods eat anything from fish to crabs, so their beaks can handle some pretty tough crunching. What to Do About a Spider Bite on the Eyelid, lack of oxygen in your tissues, resulting in discoloration that appears as blue or purple. A well-equipped beak compensates the missing teeth in the octopus, which is just as effective, or maybe more, to break open into the mollusks and the crustaceans. Copyright 2023. Do octopus bite humans? Shop Etsy, the place to express your creativity through the buying and selling of handmade and vintage goods. Octopus Force As seen in the video, the octopus approaches a group of divers who were swimming close to the ocean floor and shining flashlights. They have a parrot-like beak that they use to bite and inject venom into prey before consuming it. Whenever possible, divers should photograph wounds, because images can help medical staff provide more effective and efficient care. The tip of the Octopus Beak is much stiffer than the base of the beak, and this gradient is due to different chemical composition at various places of the mandible. The beak not only breaks open clamshells but also can tear the flesh apart. Consumption of all the prey is primarily dependent on the beak of the octopus. WebBitten By a Baby Octopus. Chitin is the same substance that makes the exoskeleton of Crabs. TTX can paralyze a human in minutes. During the Cretaceous and Jurassic period, this marine creature lost its hard mobile home. Octopus rubescens is known for its potent bites (Halstead, 1949; Berry and Halstead, 1954; Oglesby, 1972; Anderson, 1987; Halstead, 1988; Hochberg, 1997). WebShop Etsy, the place to express your creativity through the buying and selling of handmade and vintage goods. These animals have a beak that they use to consume food and paralyze prey. Before she could put it back in the water, the octopus bites her on the back of her left hand three times in the same place. On this episode I help out Justin Lee in collecting octopus for a friend. The blue-ringed octopus, a cephalopod, is less than 8 inches in diameter with its tentacles extended. Check out this cool video of a baby octopus bite. Black-green discolouration surrounding the lesion appeared about nine days after the incident. Check out pictures of spider bites, plus what to do if you have a severe reaction. Monitoring the wound site is important since signs of infection can appear from within hours to several weeks following an injury. Privacy Policy. The octopus, while swimming, captures the prey and envelops it in the web of its tentacles/arm skin, its like the octopus natural net. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I encountered a big octopus in malta i dived down to it in water approx 20 feet and it grabbed me with 4 leggs and grabbed a massive rock with its other 4 legs I was in big troughble i was drowning , having only anmask + snorkle ? Ideal for assisting riders on a Restricted licence reach their full licence or as a skills refresher for returning riders. I've been working with the National Wildlife Federation for the past five years. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. 9. The wound bled moderately, and the diver rinsed it first with saltwater and then 40 minutes later with soap and fresh water. These cephalopods eat anything from fish to crabs, so their beaks can handle some pretty tough crunching. The brain stops working, and the octopus skin turns ghost white. Both biting and stabbing have the same effect: you pierce the nerve center. What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Blue-Ringed Octopus Bite? WebIf the octopus is cornered and touched, it may bite and envenomate its attacker. Your symptoms may depend on the amount of venom released in your body, as well as your age and overall health. DAN Europe: Can You Scuba Dive on Antidepressants? The delay in proper wound care may have been a complicating factor. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. They include: Youll also want to care for the wound site. The Female octopus is often more significant than its male counterpart. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. At this time, the female chooses to change her color to pale white while the male octopus opts to change its color to a darker coloration. Most of the time theyre yellow or sand-colored, but bright blue rings appear on their body when theyre about to strike. 7. She was apparently going to eat it for dinner, but before that, decided it was a great time for a photo opportunity and we're saying this again - placed the octopus on her face. Dont prod one while youre swimming or if you encounter one in another marine life environment, like an aquarium. Thankfully, the Giant Pacific Octopus is known to be rather shy and usually friendly towards humans, rarely using its dangerous features to inflict harm. Its bite can be fatal to humans. We're sure you can see where this is going. This transformation and loss of shell were likely for the better of todays octopus as it has made the creature more agile. In this case, the wound was evaluated ten days after the incident, delaying treatment that might have limited progression of the divers symptoms. The beak is well surrounded by the long appendages that are an exceptional feature of this species. Yes, the octopus can bite humans with their beaks, and the bite can cause swelling and bleeding. Octopus beak is the hardest part now left in its body. However, very few people have died from a blue-ringed octopus bite. The shells of the animals that cant be opened with its tentacles are opened within seconds with its beak. The bite of the Giant Pacific Octopus will not only hurt, but it will also inject venom into its target (although this venom is not fatal). Before she could put it back in the water, the octopus bites her on the back of her left hand three times in the same place. The papilla secretes some eroding bodily secretions that erode the shell, and thus the prey becomes weak and is consumed by the predator (octopus). WebBitten By a Baby Octopus. Theyll strike only if they feel threatened. Learn how to spot a lone star tick, what diseases it can transmit, and what to do if you get bitten. 10. Although its incredibly rare for humans to be bitten by an Octopus, it certainly can happen. "I'm just here to tell people that just because something looks delicate and precious or it can't hurt you, know what you're touching before you actually do something like I did," the woman warned everyone on Seattle's KING 5 News. This full-day course is ideal for riders on a Learner licence or those on a Class 6 Restricted licence riding LAMS-approved machines. See Additional Information. He received intubation and oxygen from a ventilator within 30 minutes of being bitten. Toxicity and toxin composition of the greater blue-ringed octopus, Cavazzoni E, et al. Significant itching and pain reached their peak five to six days after the incident. She described the bites as surprising and feeling similar to bee stings. eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This is the reason why octopuses can vanish within a few seconds. Hence, there is a constant risk that the male takes when he is mating because, at that point, he is so close to the female that she might strangulate him and eat him by ripping off his head with its beak. TB Wild Images. The lesion took approximately seven weeks to heal, although the pain, sensitivity to touch and itching lasted for three months, with minor flare-ups still occurring four to five months after the incident, usually after exercise or early in the morning. The venom is produced by the octopis salivary glands, and the bacteria is dispersed through their beak.TTX can paralyze a person in minutes; as a result, your body wouldnt be able to get enough oxygen, and you would die from a blue-ringed octopus. Chimpanzees, widely regarded as the most intelligent species on the planet, are able to influence their environment and their immediate surroundings in order to benefit both themselves and their community. TB Wild Images. The blue-ringed octopus is the worlds most venomous marine animal. This involves cleaning the bite area with fresh water (not salt water). It is strange but true that octopuses do not have teeth; nonetheless, they still can crack up many of their prey that has a hard exoskeleton. What is the bite force of an octopus? WebYes, the octopus can bite humans with their beaks, and the bite can cause swelling and bleeding. Octopus beak is the hardest substance in its body. They are commonly found in the coral reefs and tide pools in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Ideal for experienced riders looking to hone specific technical aspects of riding and riding styles. Its made up of chitin and cross-linked proteins. Copyright 2023 ec Estudio Integral. Why does an octopus eat their partner? The venom can kill more than 20 humans in just a few minutes, though this is extremely unlikely to happen. Hippopotamus (1,800 psi) 5. DAN advises divers to treat wounds caused by marine life like any other animal bite and seek prompt medical attention. What Are the Best PsA Treatments for You? (Smithsonian Institution/Wikimedia)The beak and muscles combined can give a good chomp if the octopus needs to. If youre able to get intubated and put on a ventilator in time, its possible to survive the bite. If you have swelling in just one eye or have found a spider in the area where you were bit, it's safe to assume a spider or similar bug is to blame. Arch Dermatol. Sex can be deadly for a male octopus. Only the venom of the blue-ringed octopus is life-threatening to humans. Octopuses (no, not octopi) might look squishy, and they mostly are, but the eight-armed animals also have a secret weapon in the middle of all those tentacles a scissor-like beak. Here's how to avoid it, and how to treat injuries caused by a bite. Thank you for your understanding and compliance. Before she could put it back in the water, the octopus bites her on the back of her left hand three times in the same place. The elastic bandage should be removed for 90 seconds every 10 minutes and then reapplied for the first 4-6 hours. After approximately 10 minutes, the victim may have difficulty breathing, become paralyzed, and require artificial ventilation until they can be transported to a hospital. 8. COMPLEJO DE 4 DEPARTAMENTOS CON POSIBILIDAD DE RENTA ANUAL, HERMOSA PROPIEDAD A LA VENTA EN PLAYAS DE ORO, CON EXCELENTE VISTA, CASA CON AMPLIO PARQUE Y PILETA A 4 CUADRAS DE RUTA 38, COMPLEJO TURISTICO EN Va. CARLOS PAZ. American Alligator (2,150 psi) 4. The Octopus Beak is similar to that of a Parrots Beak. While mating, the female wraps her eight- arms around the male and embraces. The team that caught the largest animal won. The bite though is not fatal, but if the octopus pours its venom inside you, then it could be deadly. An analysis of marine animal injuries presenting to emergency departments in Victoria. Any hole as big as the octopus beak can indeed fit in the complete octopus. A baby octopus bites me after I find it washed up on the beach. 1. Lastly, the octopuses beak (located under the octopus by the buccal mask) is not just for show. It uses the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, which quickly causes respiratory arrest. Octopuses are generally regarded as the cute, colorful, and (incredibly) intellectual characters of the ocean. Fire ants are found in many southern U.S. states. They are rarely seen in water deeper than 10. We dont spam! Estimates of the number of recorded fatalities caused by blue-ringed Most of the time theyre yellow or sand-colored, but bright blue rings appear on their body when theyre about to strike, Theyll strike only if they feel threatened. The Female octopus is often more significant than its male counterpart. [16] Estimates of the number of recorded fatalities caused by blue-ringed octopuses vary, ranging from seven to sixteen deaths; most scholars agree that there have been at least eleven. Do octopus bite humans? On this episode I help out Justin Lee in collecting octopus for a friend. The blue-ringed octopus lives in rock pools, under shells, and in shallow waters, making them a risk to people wading in tide pools, children, and divers alike. The Giant Pacific Octopuss bite will hurt its victim and inject venom into them as well, though this venom is not lethal. Ever heard or seen an octopus squeezing through a small hole? Only the venom of the blue-ringed octopus is life-threatening to humans. One 2008 study notes that there are just three human deaths on record. The Octopus Beak Works like a scissor. Taylor DM, Ashby K, Winkel KD. The woman's face reportedly bled for at least Groups can determine their own course content .. We are classified as a Close Proximity Business under the Covid-19 Protection Framework (Traffic Lights). In Washington, a woman who placed a baby octopus (believed to be a Giant Pacific) on her face for a photo was bit and injected with venom. Hi, I am Elise McDonald, a wildlife blogger, and author. Designed by, INVERSORES! Scuba Diver North America Issue 12 out now! [17] Tetrodotoxin can be found in nearly every organ and gland of its body. You should seek immediate medical attention if youre bitten, even if you dont suspect that the creature injected you with venom. This will allow them to treat potentially dangerous symptoms that may occur hours after the animal encounter. The flexible and long arms of this creature are well-equipped to reach well-hidden places in the crevices where the small fish or crabs are hidden. Made out of hard chitin (same as the stuff in crab exoskeletons, for example), this octopus beak actually looks a lot like a parrot's, as you can see in this picture of a giant squid's beak below. Blue-ringed octopi bites are lethal to humans because of the creatures venom. Octopus rubescens is known for its potent bites (Halstead, 1949; Berry and Halstead, 1954; Oglesby, 1972; Anderson, 1987; Halstead, 1988; Hochberg, 1997). Is an octopus bite painful? Although its incredibly rare for humans to be bitten by an Octopus, it certainly can happen. Last year, a former lifeguard named Lance Karlson became the victim of an octopus attack . We've revealed gravitational waves. Contents show Can Octopus Really Bite? All octopuses have venom, but few are fatally dangerous. Web140K subscribers. Plus, they generally stay hidden away during the day and are awake at night. If a blue-ringed octopus does bite you, you need to get medical treatment immediately because their bites can be fatal in a short amount of time. They had hard shells all over their body. Spencer E. (2017). Saltwater Crocodile (3,700 psi) 2. The woman's face reportedly bled for at least And so, as many news organisations have been reporting, we come to the story of a fishing enthusiast in Washington state who found an octopus and - yes, you know what's coming - put it on her face. WebIn contrast, in the case of an untreated O. rubescens bite on an Aquarium employee 20 years earlier, necrosis at the bite site continued for about a month. 2. The beak sits inside a section called the buccal mass, which is the first part of their simple digestive system, and is surrounded by the muscly arm appendages. 0. If the male is smaller, then the female can completely envelop its partner. Other negative encounters of what experts believe were Giant Pacific Octopuses include one with another Russian diver, where the octopus clings first to the diver and then to the camera during the process of filming. The beak can also be termed as jaws or mandibles. Sex can be deadly for a male octopus. American Oceans, The Giant Pacific Octopus is not generally regarded as a dangerous octopus, unlike its counterpart the. 1. The woman's face reportedly bled for at least 30 minutes. She had just completed her second dive on the second day of a dive series. A baby octopus bites me after I find it washed up on the beach. The venom is held in salivary glands and the mouth of the octopus in on the underneath side in the middle of the body. Bats are one of the most common carriers of rabies. She also took an over-the-counter antihistamine and applied crushed aspirin to the skin surrounding the puncture site (not directly on the wound), but none of these practices provided any relief. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A third complicating factor, in this case, may have been the delay in medical care. However, very few people have died from a blue-ringed octopus bite. Nov 19, 2017. Octopuses would perform better than most humans on the math section of the IQ test, with a genius level of over 140, and they would also perform exceptionally well in the spatial visual section, but they would perform very poorly in most of the other fields. What you need to know about blue-ringed octopus venom, How to avoid a blue-ringed octopus attack, aims.gov.au/docs/projectnet/blue-ringed-octopus.html, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6563023/, diversalertnetwork.org/health/hazardous-marine-life/blue-ringed-octopus, tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15563650701601790, oceanconservancy.org/blog/2017/03/13/the-blue-ringed-octopus-small-but-deadly/, What to Do If Youre Bitten By a Pet Ball Python, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT. The immediate swelling the diver experienced may have been a consequence of the initial trauma, the exposure to myriad antigens that followed and/or toxins. Read our privacy policy for more info. If a blue-ringed octopus does bite you, you need to get medical treatment immediately because their bites can be fatal in a short amount of time. That being said, humans are pretty good at trying to provoke octopuses. The blue-ringed octopus does not release inky fluid like other octopi are able to do. Early symptoms of a blue-ringed octopus bite may include: excessive saliva production difficulty swallowing chest tightness tingling numbness sweating lightheadedness and dizziness headache nausea loss of vision LOTE EN VA PARQUE SIQUIMAN A 2 CUADRAS DE LAGO SAN ROQUE. Top of our list of the smartest animals is another great ape, the chimpanzee, whose impressive intellectual prowess has long fascinated humans. WebA blue-ringed octopus is one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean. Theres little reason to fear getting stung by a blue-ringed octopus if youre careful. They can diet on lobsters, snails, shrimp, clams, sharks, and various other scallops and crustaceans. The blue-ringed octopus bite is highly poisonous to humans. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. The TTX that a blue-ringed octopus injects is one of the most deadly toxins on earth, and there is no antidote. Nov 19, 2017. WebShop Etsy, the place to express your creativity through the buying and selling of handmade and vintage goods. WebIn contrast, in the case of an untreated O. rubescens bite on an Aquarium employee 20 years earlier, necrosis at the bite site continued for about a month. This octopus can paralyze and kill an adult human with a single bite. Initially, the physician prescribed a ten-day course of the antibiotic levofloxacin. A blue-ringed octopus is one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean. The small puncture wound developed into what appeared to be an ulcerous lesion, similar to one that developed following a common octopus bite documented in a 2011 medical case report. Researchers say that octopuses werent such slimy and squishy creatures many centuries ago. She described the bites as surprising and feeling similar to bee stings. The Giant Pacific Octopus is not generally regarded as a dangerous octopus, unlike its counterpart the Blue-Ringed Octopus. Upon surfacing, she was nauseous and vomited (she had not previously experienced such symptoms after diving). This is one of the most serious and deadly types of venom found in the ocean. 140K subscribers. She ended up going to the emergency room a few days later and was given antibiotics. The blue-ringed octopus' size is only five to eight inches. Terms & Conditions. A post shared by Kimby Rollins (@kimbyrollins), While it was no doubt an unpleasant experience, the baby octopus was likely acting out of fear, feeling threatened after being taken out of the water and placed near the womans mouth. Since the blue-ringed octopus is not an aggressive marine animal, most cases of bites are from a person picking up and handling the octopus, or stepping on it in a sandy beach area. The blue-ringed octopus is the worlds most venomous marine animal. IDEAL OPORTUNIDAD DE INVERSION, CODIGO 4803 OPORTUNIDAD!! Some Octopus hunt during the night and some other species hunt the whole day, from dusk to dawn. Incidents of the above encounters include the Sea of Japan, Primorsky Krai (Far East Russian), and Tacoma, Washington in the United States. Early symptoms of a blue-ringed octopus bite may include: excessive saliva production difficulty swallowing chest tightness tingling numbness sweating lightheadedness and dizziness headache nausea loss of vision Octopus beak looks very similar to that of a parrot. You might experience a range of symptoms if a blue-ringed octopus bites you. After the prey is killed, the meat is siphoned out and dined on in hiding. The reason for this gradient is the different chemical composition of the beak at different parts. It's uncommon for humans to get bitten by this dangerous octopus unless they accidentally or intentionally provoke or disturb it while snorkeling or scuba diving. What Is the Treatment for a Blue-Ringed Octopus Bite? The beak is used to break open into the mollusks and the crustaceans. Its bite can be fatal to humans. The beak is as sharp as a Swiss Army knife. However, I try to note that petting may be more like a cat scratching an itch than any form of affection. It is one of the most potent toxins on earth. Since the blue-ringed octopus is not an aggressive marine animal, most cases of bites are from a person picking up and handling the octopus, or stepping on it in a sandy beach area. Last medically reviewed on September 10, 2020. Moderate pain and significant itching and swelling lasted for more than a month. However, very few people have died from a blue-ringed octopus bite. The blue-ringed octopus injects its toxin by biting. 5. Most of the time theyre yellow or sand-colored, but bright blue rings appear on their body when theyre about to strike. Although the swelling was probably the result of an acute inflammatory reaction, tight-fitting wrist seals may have compromised distal perfusion, further exacerbating symptoms. The nausea resolved quickly, and the diver conducted five more dives over the next two days despite significant swelling and compromised mobility that lasted for about four days. Giant Pacific Octopuses are creatures of high intelligence and high amicability. Ann Dermatol Venereol. It uses the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, which quickly causes respiratory arrest. The greater blue-ringed octopus, however, is considered to be one of the most venomous animals known; the venom of one is enough to kill ten adult humans. We battle the strong current and even stronger octopus. This octopus can paralyze and kill an adult human with a single bite. The greater blue-ringed octopus, however, is considered to be one of the most venomous animals known; the venom of one is enough to kill ten adult humans. Although the average length is 16 feet, it has been known to reach up to 30 feet. The Giant Pacific Octopuss bite will hurt its victim and inject venom into them as well, though this venom is not lethal. Web140K subscribers. To avoid being bitten by a blue-ring octopus, never pick up or handle this marine animal, and when entering the ocean, shuffle your feet as you enter to avoid stepping on The octopus, probably unimpressed about being on someone's face, dished out a couple of painful bites and injected some venom into the wound. If you or someone you know has been bitten by a blue-ringed octopus, call 911 or activate the local medical emergency service in the area immediately. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Octopus are rarely aggressive towards humans but do an attack on occasion. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. There is still much we do not know about Our medical staff often receive questions on whether diving Michael Menduno offers up some sage advice on methods Scuba Diver Magazine is a global publication serving all the major English speaking markets in print and digital format. Blue-ringed octopi have venom called tetrodotoxin, or TTX. The different species of octopus engage in a variety of unheard mating behaviors. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The mating couple during this time, shares a place to stay, share food, and even eat together in beak to beak position, which is again quite a rare sight in the case of octopuses. One amongst them is beak to beak mating. Youve been successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Nov 19, 2017. Hippopotamus (1,800 psi) 5. The wound bled moderately, and the diver rinsed it first with saltwater and then 40 minutes later with soap and fresh water. 10 Things People With Depression Wish You Knew. The TTX that a blue-ringed octopus injects is one of the most deadly toxins on earth, and there is no antidote. 4. Scientists have found the remains of the octopus beak in the stomachs of its predators/ enemies. Campanelli A, Sanchez-Politta S, Saurat JH. In addition to inflammation of the affected area, other symptoms of infection include pain, redness and immobilisation. Not all bites result in severe symptoms, but a healthcare professional should watch over you for several hours following a bite. Octopus eats a variety of foods, and the list of their diet is quite long. Its made out of a hard substance called chitin. They can move in and out of very tiny spaces, so be careful to avoid touching any object where they may hide. Even when an octopus does attack is usually acting in self-defense rather than out of sheer aggression. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Although its incredibly rare for humans to be bitten by an Octopus, it certainly can happen. What Is a Blue-Ringed Octopus, and How Does It Bite? Last year, a former lifeguard named Lance Karlson became the victim of an octopus attack .