Paul Thomasson, 39, suffered a severe allergic reaction that left him covered in hives after he was bitten by a mouse spider
A gardener claims he almost died after a bite from a spider that was lurking in the sleeve of his dressing gown left him unable to breath.
Paul Thomasson, 39, suffered a severe allergic reaction that left him covered in hives after he was bitten by a mouse spider, which are common in UK homes.
The arachnid nipped him when it emerged from the inside of his robe, and Mr Thomasson, from Neston, Chesire, felt his back go ‘red hot’ straightaway.
Soon after, his condition had worsened – he could no longer breathe and his back was covered in small lumps.
Mouse spiders can grow up to 3cm in length and are among the most venomous to be found in Britain.
Soon after being bitten, his condition had worsened – he felt his back go ‘red hot’ and it was covered in small lumps
Mr Thomasson’s wife, Charlotte, called 999 and paramedics gave him an injection to aid the reaction, but he must now carry an EpiPen with him at all times.
HOW A MOUSE SPIDER BITE CAN CAUSE AN ALLERGIC REACTION
Mouse spiders are venomous spiders that usually range from 1cm to 3cm in size.
Their bites are known to cause severe illnesses, especially among children.
They are not normally aggressive, but will bite if they are provoked.
Anyone bitten by a mouse spider is advised to seek medical attention immediately.
Mouse spiders are most commonly found in autumn and summer.
‘In the space of about ten minutes I went from relaxing in the bath to being terrified for my life,’ he told the Liverpool Echo.
‘I think I’ve seen maybe four or five of them in the house since we moved in [in 2014].
‘I don’t know if it’s just that type of spider I’m allergic to, but I’m not taking any chances.’
Mr Thomasson is not the first Briton to suffer a severe reaction to a bite from a spider in recent weeks.
Lauren Boddy, from Reading, Berkshire, was put in hospital needing two operations after a woodlouse spider bit her as she sat on the toilet.
Doctors at the Royal Berkshire Hospital sent her home with antibiotics, but her conditioned worsened and two days later she was back in, this time on a drip and needing surgery.
And Courtney Thompson, 19, was rushed to hospital by her mother after she was attacked by a spider at her family home in Crawley, Sussex.
She was sent home after her leg was dressed, but the tiny bite quickly developed into a a deep gash.
Lauren Boddy, from Reading, Berkshire, was put in hospital needing two operations after a spider bit her as she sat on the toilet
Courtney Thompson, 19, was rushed to hospital by her mother after she was attacked by a spider at her family home in Crawley, Sussex