Assault With A Jellyfish

A drunk in Madeira Beach, Florida, was arrested after repeatedly pretending to drown in the surf, then began throwing jellyfish at other beachgoers.

Keith Marriott, 41, was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Monday on a disorderly intoxication charge after witnesses say he began falling face first into the water at Madeira Beach then became violent.

Nate McHugh of St. Petersburg was among the many who tried to jump in to help thinking the man might drown.

"The way he was trying to get out of the water, he was beyond wasted," said McHugh.

It's unclear if Marriott went unconscious or was faking his drowning, but minutes later witnesses report he was back in the Gulf, this time flinging jellyfish at those on shore.

As many as six people reported painful sings, including McHugh's girlfriend.

"It bubbled up and she had 11 or 12 little bumps and redness," he recalled, describing the painful sting mark left on his girlfriend's arm. The two left the beach shortly after.

Another victim, a teenage girl around 16 years old, had a more severe reaction according to witnesses and had to receive medical treatment after she was stung all over her face and chest.

"She had really bad sting marks. It was really big and red and she had difficulty breathing," said McHugh.

He was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon after large knife was found in his pocket, described as a "filet knife" in one report and a "pocket knife" in another report. Possibly it's folding filet knife of the sort that Spyderco used to make.