100 people were stung by a 50 pound jellyfish yesterday at Wallis Sands beach in Rye, NH. The beach has been reopened after the dead Lion’s Mane jellyfish drifted into waters along the beach, injuring swimmers before being scooped out of the water with a pitchfork.

While officials reported that there were no serious injuries, five children were taken to the hospital out fears of severe allergic reactions. A large number of the injured are children, who were out swimming when the jellyfish drifted to shore. One parent, Alysia Bennett of Hampstead, NH, remembers her three children crying as they ran out the water.  “They were terrified” she said.

Injured swimmers were given medical treatment in the beach’s bathhouse.

According to aquarist Robert Royer of the Seacoast Science Center, the jellyfish is believed to be a Lion’s Mane jellyfish, a species common to New England waters. Lion’s Mane jellyfish have barbed tentacles that can sometimes grow up to a 100 feet in length. “That’s the largest [type of jellyfish] we have around here. I’ve never heard of them getting up to 50 pounds.” Royer said.