A TEENAGER in Australia was fighting for his life yesterday after accidentally drinking a deadly box jellyfish tentacle left in a jar of water in a surf club refrigerator. The 17-year-old lifesaver from Mission Beach, Queensland, drank water from a glass jar containing box jellyfish tentacles. The tentacles apparently were being saved to give to university researchers.

The victim, whose name was not released, swallowed at least one mouthful of water before realizing his mistake. However he managed to alert his colleagues.

An ambulance spokesperson said the teenager was having trouble breathing when paramedics arrived about 10 minutes later.

Deadly box jellyfish infest northern Australian coastal waters from October to April every year.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) warns box jellyfish stings are fatal to swimmers.

``If you are stung, your chances of survival or getting to shore are virtually zero,'' the AIMS website says.