Warning deadly Irukandji jellyfish heading further south as number of stings surge

Twenty-two people have been hospitalised this summer with Irukandji stings, which can cause brain haemorrhages

The deadly Irukandji jellyfish is likely to spread further down Australia's east coast as temperatures warm, an expert says, after twice as many Queenslanders were stung by the species this season than usual.

Twenty-two people have been hospitalised this summer with Irukandji stings - which are so severe they can cause brain haemorrhages and a debilitating sensation of impending doom, known as Irukandji syndrome.