Good Samaritan is left hospitalised in ‘excruciating pain’ after savage PLATYPUS attack

A good Samaritan who went out of her way to save a ‘cute little’ platypus has been left hospitalised after the marsupial savagely attacked her.

Tasmanian woman Jenny Forward spotted the semi-aquatic animal trapped in a gutter on the side of a road in Kingston, Hobart.

Upon picking up the creature, she was immediately struck by the venomous spurs on his hind legs, injecting ‘excruciating’ venom into either side of her right hand.

Only male platypuses are armed with spurs, usually used to ward off others during mating season and to defend themselves when being attacked.

They are the only mammal that produces venom, and while not strong enough to kill a human, it causes horrific pain and swelling.

Ms Forward revealed the platypus had pierced her hand so viciously she couldn’t initially pull it off as it had become stuck. 

Despite the pain, Ms Forward carried the platypus back to her car with plans to safely release it elsewhere.

‘I don’t know how I got home, the pain was so bad, I had to drive with one hand,’ she told Seven.

‘My head felt like it was gonna explode.’

A friend promptly rushed her to hospital, where she remained in agony for days as pain-killers do little to remedy the infection. 

Hospital staff knew little about procedures to treat a platypus spurring due to incidents being so infrequent.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary director Greg Irons told the ABC that he could only recall three or four cases of spurring in 22 years. 

Ms Forward spotted the platypus (pictured) on the side of a road stuck in a gutter

The platypus’ venom isn’t enough to kill a human but will cause ‘excruciating’ pain and swelling 

Mr Irons urged anyone who believes a platypus is in trouble to not pick up the animal but instead to take photos or video and send it on to wildlife rescuers.

He said that Ms Forward’s situation was an opportunity to warn others not to touch a platypus.

While still feeling the effects of the spurring and having her arm in a sling, Ms Forward is now more passionate than ever to help protect the local population of platypuses.

‘It’s an iconic Australian animal, [this has] motivated me to do a lot more for them,’ she told the ABC.

Being spurred by a platypus can have ongoing effects for decades after the incident, even for Australia’s toughest soldiers.

Keith Payne, a former Australian soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, was spurred by a platypus in 1991 and continued to feel discomfort in 2006.