A BRIT was stung by one of Australia’s most fearsome jellyfish - which infects its victims with deadly venom causing a sense of “impending doom”.

James Soale said he had “never felt fear like it” after meeting the evil Irukandji jellyfish in the crystal clear waters off an Oz beach.

The 22-year-old was hospitalised for more than 10 hours, with terrified medics finding some of the beast’s toxic venom had leaked into his HEART.

James was travelling Down Under with his girlfriend, Savannah Callaghan, 23, when the pair went for a dip in the ocean at Palm Cove Beach, Cairs, North Queensland on March 4.

Savannah explained: “They had these netting areas to go swimming in because they have a bit of an issue with crocodiles and jellyfish.

“We were told if we swam in the safety areas, we would be absolutely fine - there were children and babies in there too.”

James, a wedding photographer, explained: “I was in the water, probably only about up to my thighs - then there was this electric shock, a sting on my forearm.

“I went about 10 minutes without saying anything because I didn’t really want to make a fuss.”

James said as the pain worsened, he went up to let the lifeguard know what had happened - who told him to wait it out for 30 minutes.

He added: “There were just these small, dotted lines on my arm and it was the only part of my body that was sweating.

“After about 30 seconds I had to go straight back, my chest was getting tight and felt like it was closing up. My back was starting to hurt.

“That’s when he said it might be an Irukandji.”

An Irukandji is a type of Box Jellyfish, with terrifying metre-long toxic venom-studded tentacles that can cause cardiac arrest, and fatal brain hemorrhages.

The creature also has stingers on its bell, baffling scientists.

It’s thought around 100 people are treated for the awful stings each year, with the horrific symptoms sometimes lasting WEEKS.

The couple, of Kingston-upon-Thames, south west London, said they were stumped - having no idea about jellyfish - but could tell from the lifeguard’s panicked face that it was serious.

Savannah said: “The lifeguard sat me down and told me not to look at James. He said ‘James is going to feel like he’s going to die, and you do not want to watch that’.”

James explained the lifeguard asked him if he wanted to know what was going to happen next.

He said: “I said yes because I would rather know, and he told me I was going to experience the worst pain of my life.

“I was struggling to breathe and I’ve never, ever experienced pain like that.

“My heart rate was going through the roof, the panic was setting in and along with not being able to breathe - it was like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

“In terms of the fear, it was on another level.”

Swimmers were called out of the water by terrified lifeguards and James was rushed to Cairns Hospital where medics told him he was suffering with Irukandji syndrome.

Savannah explained how she could only watch on as her boyfriend writhed and screamed in excruciating pain, terrified he was going to die.

She said: “He thought he was going to die on that beach. It was horrible.”

James added that even on 30 milligrams of morphine, the pain he felt was still excruciating.

He was treated by hero Aussie docs, who kept him in for ten hours.

And Savannah rushed him back the next day after he complained of chest pain, where the photographer underwent various scans.

It was found some of the venom had entered his heart, causing a leak.

Incredibly, James made a full recovery - he will be back to normal fairly soon, with docs just advising him he will probably no longer be able to run a 10K in record time as his body heals.

The couple have even been back in the water - after scarpering from Cairns and heading to idyllic Bryon Bay.

And James has even been surfing - although the couple say they won’t ever enter the water again without a special suit designed to stop jellyfish stings.

And they’re are even planning to head back in the future, as James had to cancel a skydive due to his illness - but is raring to try it once he’s healthier.

Savannah, a pet sitter, says she has an affinity for all animals - apart from jellyfish.