British woman rushed to hospital after being bitten by vicious toxic pufferfish

She was subsequently raced to a nearby private clinic for treatment.

While receiving care, she is said to have told doctors she believed she had been attacked by a monkfish.

However, monkfish are not known to bite humans, with the species mostly sticking to the seafloor and gulping down on fish that cross its path.

Port authorities sources in Zante have confirmed to The Sun that a probe into the attack has been launched.

Over the past few months, the silver-cheeked toadfish has been appearing in increasing numbers along the Greek coastline, prompting the Hellenic Red Cross to issue fresh safety advice.

Native to the Indian Ocean, the species is believed to have entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal before spreading rapidly as sea temperatures increased.

Port authorities sources in Zante confirmed they have launched a probe into the attack

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The fish is equipped with powerful, beak-like jaws capable of inflicting devastating bite injuries, with scientists documenting cases in which swimmers suffered partial finger amputations.

Its flesh also contains tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin that makes every part of the fish unsafe to eat.

Greek authorities have responded to the growing threat by installing floating safety barriers anchored to the seabed around the island of Evia to create protected swimming areas.

Antonis Spanos, the Vice-Mayor of Chalkida, said: "Our duty and primary concern has to be the safety of our citizens. It's better to be safe than sorry."

In June, a Greek pensioner was left hurt after a suspected bite in the coastal town of Varkiza, near Athens.

The elderly woman was attacked after the pufferfish reportedly lunged at her unprovoked - forcing her to hospital for stitches.

Nota Peristeraki, a pufferfish expert, told tourists they "really need to avoid" the silver-cheeked toadfish if they spot it coming towards them.

He told The Telegraph: “Some attacks have happened when people have tried to feed or touch the fish.

“There have been a couple of cases of people losing a finger or a toe. That said, these are rare incidents.

“You are more likely to encounter a shark. If you go snorkelling, you might not even see pufferfish.

“We have found the remains of fishing nets and hooks inside their stomachs.”

The pufferfish has no natural predators in the Mediterranean - meaning the numbers of these deadly creatures have been allowed to explode.

Greek fisherman have also raised the alarm over the threat the pufferfish pose to their livelihood.

Alexis Charlambakis, an angler from Crete, said: “They leave nothing behind. If this wasn’t my boat, I’d quit this profession for good. The situation is dire… we cannot survive.”