A diver's hand was left covered in dark and white patches after accidentally touching a venomous crown-of-thorns starfish in Mauritius

Footage shows the wildlife photographer Ian Haggerty slowly pulling his hand off the coral reef where the creature was camouflaged off the coast of Pereybere beach on June 25.

Ian said he was filming a Moray eel when he brushed his palm onto the spiky starfish before his wounds were seen bleeding.

He said: ‘I was scuba diving in Mauritius. I was busy filming a Moray eel and a ray. When I moved back, I accidentally put my hand on the starfish.'

The sea creature's spikes left several holes bleeding from the enthusiast's hand but they were able to provide treatment right after the dive.

The crown-of-thorns produces a neurotoxin which can be released through its spines. The stinging pain can last for hours and even cause vomiting and nausea.