A TWO-year-old boy tragically died after a horrific box jellyfish sting at a luxury holiday hotspot in Malaysia.
Toddler Vladimir ‘Vova’ Yakubanets was paddling in shallow water when he suddenly screamed in agony.
The boy was rushed to hospital but sadly died on Wednesday, four days after the attack which left appalling lesions on his skin.
Devastated dad Nikita Yakubanets, 32, an IT specialist from Khabarovsk in Russia, said the family had touched down in Langkawi, Malaysia the previous day on their dream first holiday.
They headed to Chenang Beach early in the morning before tragedy struck.
He said: “When it happened, he was in shallow water near the shore,”
“He suddenly cried out.
“My wife took him out of the water and handed him to me before going to get a cloth to clean his leg.
“At that moment, my son stopped breathing.”
Panicked tourists rushed over to assist as desperately Nikita performed CPR.
First responders were only able to clean the wound with vinegar before the family were sent to a clinic and straight to hospital thereafter.
The bereft father said he was taken aback that first responders were unable to render meaningful assistance at the beach.
The crucial antivenin was not immediately available and had to be rushed in from Penang, a distant 90 miles away.
A Langkawi civil defence spokesman said: “The child was brought to the hospital by family members in a near-lifeless state.
“He was successfully resuscitated after two hours.”
The brave boy was moved to a major hospital on the mainland, but sadly succumbed to complications from the sting.
Nikita said: “The doctor said that our child was poisoned by a jellyfish, then his heart stopped.”
Medics in Langkawi and Alor Star battled to save the child, and the grieving parents thanked them for their efforts.
Despite the ordeal, the heartbroken parents say they will not take legal action, and want their son’s death to serve as a warning to others.
Nikita said: “We believe this was the purpose of his life — to save others, to prevent future tragedies,
“Vladimir was very kind, very smart. We were a happy family.”
Mum Olga, 32, wants their son’s passing to have meaning.
She added: “Our son is our hero. He is our little angel. Every day we told him we loved him, and he always said he loved us too.”
The couple will cremate Vladimir and take his ashes back to Russia.
Urgent warnings have since been issued of box jellyfish, one of the most venomous animals in the world.
Stings from the creatures can cause death in minutes if not properly treated.
Box jellyfish venom attacks the heart, nervous system, and skin cells, resulting in excruciating pain.
An acetic acid, such as vinegar, is the recommended immediate treatment to neutralise toxins and remove tentacles.
Kedah Fisheries Department Director Sukri Deris Said Box jellyfish cases are rare on Langkawi Island.
A study is underway into any unusual jellyfish movements along the coast and tourists have been urged to exercise extra caution.
While box jellyfish attacks are rare, urgent medical attention is critical for survival.
A 14-year-old boy tragically died after being stung by a box jellyfish with huge 6ft long tentacles in Queensland, Australia
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The teen was enjoying a day out at the popular Eimeo Beach in before the fatal accident.