Housemate of student who died from spider bite was left with a ‘hole’ in his neck from an arachnid

A housemate of a student who died from an infected spider bite has revealed that he was left with a ‘hole’ in his neck after also being bitten by an arachnid ‘the size of his fist’ during an infestation.  

University of Hull student Harry Bolton, 19, died from sepsis after suffering a freak reaction from a spider bite in accommodation where complaints had already been made about an invasion.

He was found dead at his shared student house in Chancellor’s Walk four days after being bitten on the back.

Others in the student accommodation complex on Cottingham Road, Hull, East Yorkshire, had already complained about an invasion of spiders – but an inspection had found no infestation, an inquest heard. 

University of Hull student Harry Bolton (pictured), 19, was found dead at his shared student house four days after being bitten on the back. His housemate has revealed he was also bitten by a spider which left him with a ‘hole’ in his neck

One of those was Kacper Zydron, a third-year student, who said he and his housemates could see large spiders coming from the attic and scuttling across rooms but were warned by their landlords not to go up there.   

Kacper, who described Harry as ‘fun and happy and outgoing’, said that the students had been leaving windows open during the spider invasion because their modern student accommodation was getting very warm.

‘The spiders were big – the size of a fist. I was bitten around August,’ Kacper said.

‘I was just in bed when it happened. It was not anything weird – it was just a small bite pretty much. It was just a pinprick.

‘After about a week, it was like a hole in my neck that had started oozing.’

Kacper told of going to A&E but claims he was simply given paracetamol – which had little effect.

His parents helped him remove pus from the infection and Kacper said that helped relieve the pain. He called his GP and asked for antibiotics to heal the wound which cleared his infection.

Kacper sent an email to Ashcourt Student Housing about a problem with spiders with an image of a common house spider he had taken the following day attached.

Harry (pictured) was said to be a promising student in second year at the university in East Yorkshire

Harry (pictured) was said to be a promising student in second year at the university in East Yorkshire

Coroner Paul Marks determined that Harry Bolton's (pictured) death was caused by sepsis, due to an acute chest infection, due to an infected wound on his back

Coroner Paul Marks determined that Harry Bolton’s (pictured) death was caused by sepsis, due to an acute chest infection, due to an infected wound on his back

But Hull Coroner’s Court heard an inspection by the maintenance team found no infestation on the premises in Chancellor’s Walk.

A few weeks later, Harry was bitten too. Kacper says it may have been a similar sort of spider but is unsure.      

On October 7, 2021, one of Harry’s housemates realised he had not received a response to a text message to him, the hearing heard. 

After the housemate came home home from work that night, he and another housemate knocked on Harry’s door. But when there was no answer, site security were called and his room door was broken down.

The light was turned on and they found ‘promising’ second year student Harry laying in his bed, on his back with his eyes and mouth open.

He was cold to the touch and his housemates and the security team member noticed his chest was not moving.

They called the police and paramedics who spotted a £1 coin size large gaping wound on Harry’s back that appeared infected.

Harry was found not breathing and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Just four days earlier on October 3, 2021, Harry had told a friend a spider had bitten him on his back and he was not feeling well.

His friend suggested he go to the A&E to get it checked out.

Harry went to Hull Royal Infirmary at 9.40pm that night with a high temperature and a high heart rate.

Harry was found dead at his shared student house in Chancellor's Walk, Cottingham Road, Hull (stock image)

Harry was found dead at his shared student house in Chancellor’s Walk, Cottingham Road, Hull (stock image)

A blood sample was taken and nothing of high risk was detected though there was inflammation.

But Ben Rayer, an A&E consultant at Hull Royal Infirmary, told the court this was not something that would be flagged up by the labs as a matter of immediate risk.

At 1.01am, on October 4, Harry discharged himself, telling staff he would go home to bed and go for a check-up the next day.

The following morning was the last time Harry was seen by his housemates. 

The tenancy agreement stated that low-level pest intrusions were the responsibility of tenants.

After Harry’s death, pest control was called for the peace of mind of the tenants and a survey was carried out.

Sticky traps were laid out. It revealed that there was a normal number of insects in the house given the time of the year.

Coroner Paul Marks determined that Harry Bolton’s death was caused by sepsis due to an acute chest infection due to an infected wound on his back.

He said: ‘Had he not been bitten by an invertebrate, possibly a spider, he would not have died at that time. It is an incredibly unfortunate case. He had a promising future ahead of him.’

Kacper believes that his friend just did not realise how serious hit condition was. He said that Harry was in the second year of a three-year Chemistry BA and was enjoying university.

‘It was just unfortunate events. I don’t blame anyone for it. It was a weird situation but it happened,’ he added.

But he agreed it was strange that both he and Harry both suffered similar extreme reactions to the bites.

‘I don’t think they were venomous. It was just a case of both spider bites getting infected from bacteria,’ he said.

‘It was pretty much a crappy situation that happened and no one knew what to do.’

He was still a tenant of the same student accommodation providers but at a different address.

Students currently occupying the same row of three storey houses said they had not noticed any spider problems recently.

One male student said: ‘I live in the attic and have never even seen a spider.’

Another girl said: ‘I was shocked to read what happened. We’ve only had one spider we found in the kitchen but it could have come from outside though.’ 

SIX MAJOR SIGNS OF SEPSIS

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused when the body releases chemicals to fight an infection.

These chemicals damage the body’s own tissues and organs and can lead to shock, organ failure and death. 

Organ failure and death are more likely if sepsis is not recognized early and treated immediately.

Sepsis infects an estimated 55,000 Australians each year, killing between 5,000 and 9,000 making it more than four times deadlier than the road toll.

The symptoms can look like gastro or flu and can become deadly, rapidly.

The six major signs of something potentially deadly can be identified by the acronym ‘SEPSIS’:

  • Slurred speech or confusion, lethargy, disorientation
  • Extreme shivering or muscle pain, fever or low temperature
  • Pressing a rash doesn’t make it fade
  • Severe breathlessness, rapid breathing
  • Inability to pass urine for several hours 
  • Skin that’s mottled or discoloured  

Children may also show convulsions or fits, and a rash that doesn’t fade when you press it – and more than 40 per cent of cases occur in children under five. 

Anyone who develops these symptoms should seek medical help urgently — and ask doctors: ‘Could this be sepsis?’ 

Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing about 10,000 Australians each year

Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing about 10,000 Australians each year

The early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, making it difficult to diagnose. 

A high temperature (fever), chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and rapid breathing are also indicators. 

A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital – yet this rarely happens. 

In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, flu or upset stomach. 

It is most common and dangerous in older adults, pregnant women, children younger than one, people with chronic conditions or those who have weakened immune systems.  

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