A viral TikTok video has left millions stunned after a young content creator unknowingly filmed herself just seconds before a potentially fatal encounter with one of the world’s deadliest animals.

The TikToker, known by her handle @LivinWildWithLena, was exploring a remote beach in northern Australia when she spotted a small, brightly colored creature near the shoreline. Curious and unaware of the danger, she picked up what she believed to be a “harmless little octopus” and began recording a playful video for her followers. The footage shows her smiling, joking, and even letting the creature crawl across her hand.

What she didn’t realize at the time was that she had just come face-to-face with a blue-ringed octopus, one of the most venomous marine animals on Earth. Despite its tiny size—usually no larger than a golf ball—the blue-ringed octopus carries enough venom to kill more than 20 humans in minutes. Its bite is often painless, and victims may not even realize they’ve been envenomated until paralysis and respiratory failure begin.

Lena only discovered the creature’s identity after posting the video and receiving hundreds of comments from shocked viewers. “Please tell me this is old footage and you’re okay!” one follower wrote. Another exclaimed, “That’s a blue-ringed octopus! You could’ve died!”

Shaken by the revelation, Lena posted a follow-up video saying, “I had no idea how lucky I was. I looked it up and nearly passed out when I saw what it was. I’m still in shock.”

Experts weighed in, confirming the identity of the creature and emphasizing how close Lena came to tragedy. “She is extremely fortunate. One bite, and it could’ve been fatal within minutes without immediate medical intervention,” said marine biologist Dr. Eva Ramirez.

The incident has sparked a wider conversation online about the dangers of interacting with wildlife without proper knowledge. Lena has since urged her followers to “look, but don’t touch” and to respect nature—especially when it’s this deadly.