British tourist films brush with death after handling deadly blue-ringed octopus

A UK tourist unknowingly handled one of the world’s most venomous sea creatures while filming on a Philippine beach

A British tourist unknowingly risked his life after handling one of the world’s most venomous marine animals during a beach walk in the Philippines.

Andrew McConnell shared a video on Instagram showing himself picking up what he believed was a harmless baby octopus, after seeing local children pass it around and place it in a rock pool.

NEW: British man unknowingly starts playing with the world's deadliest octopus while vacationing in the Philippines.

The man filmed himself handling a blue-ringed octopus, which can paralyze its victim by blocking nerve transmission.

According to the National Library of… pic.twitter.com/4MvUFD5FL8

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 16, 2025

Only after posting the clip did viewers alert him that the animal was a blue-ringed octopus, a tiny but extremely dangerous species whose venom can be fatal.

McConnell later described the moment as a “close encounter with death,” admitting he was completely unaware of the risk at the time. Alarmed by the realization, he said he contacted a nearby school to ensure the children involved would be educated about dangerous sea creatures, and also alerted the local coast guard, who recognized the species immediately.

The blue-ringed octopus carries tetrodotoxin, a powerful toxin that can cause paralysis and respiratory failure, even though its bite may be painless. The video prompted shocked reactions online, with many warning against handling unfamiliar marine life.