A husband spent four days in hospital after being bitten by a deadly false widow spider in the loft of his UK home.
Keith Jackson, 59, from Welton, Lincolnshire, did not think much when he felt a nip on the back of his leg when he climbed up to gather some storage.
He initially ignored the wound, believing it was just a spot, but he then ended up being rushed into hospital while he was in Tenerife with his wife, Linda.
Mrs Jackson said her husband’s leg ended up being red, swollen and was left with a hole ‘full of pus’.
Keith Jackson (pictured with his wife, Linda), 59, from Welton, Lincolnshire, was left in agony after being bitten by a widow spider
She said: “Keith went into our loft a week before our holiday when he sat on the edge he said ‘ouch’. But by the time he came down nothing more was said.
“Two days later I noticed a spot on the back of his thigh and we said that it was probably from the loft. I looked at it. He said it didn’t particularly hurt and it had no head so we ignored it.”
Mrs Jackson said two days later the bump became worse still and the couple thought it was a boil.
Her husband was reluctant to go to the doctors despite it getting morepainful, so the couple went away on their holiday.
Mrs Jackson, 52, said: “The flight was hard for Keith as the spot was right where he sits.
“[Two days later on Wednesday] I decided he needed a doctor, his leg was red, swollen, leaking and full of pus.
“Keith looked ashen, felt poorly and the abscess looked horrendous.
“The Spanish doctor admitted him to hospital and he was put on intravenous antibiotics. They operated on Friday afternoon and kept him in until Saturday teatime, which was four days and three nights. He was still having regular intravenous antibiotics and then he was discharged with oral tablets.
The bite on Mr Jackson’s legs is pictured right, while the couple are smiling in hospital, right, while he has a drip in his arm
“We returned to the hospital on Monday for the dressing to be changed, and that’s when I saw the hole left in Keith’s leg.”
Mrs Jackson said after the couple returned to the UK he had to go to the villagehealth centre where he had five weeks of appointments every other day where dressings packed into the hole on his leg could be changed.
She said: “Thankfully he healed well with no complications.
“During his stay in hospital he Googled spider bites, as we were 99 per cent sure by this time he had been bitten in the loft. He had probably sat on one, and the description and pictures were exactly what Keith experienced. “
The mobile hairdresser added the couple have now become very aware of spiders that are in the home and she is going to start using peppermint oil as a deterrent.
“The nurses did advise if you suspect you have been bitten, to wash the area with soap and water to prevent infection.
“Keith still has a small scab where the wound was. The nurses don’t need to see him anymore unless there is a complication such as infection, but hopefully as it has healed so well he will just be left with a small dent and scar to show for the ordeal.”
Mrs Jackson posted in the You’re Probably from Lincoln If group on Facebook warning other people to take care after the couple’s experience.
“I know that spiders won’t attack unless they are provoked or feel endangered. I suppose a human sitting on you counts as feeling endangered – so approach with caution and remove from your house carefully.
“I have a spider vacuum which I use, this is unless Keith has already squashed it. He takes no spider prisoners now. The phrase one bitten twice shy applies – literally.
“We have also cleaned and vacuumed the whole house, under sofas and beds, behind cupboards and drawers getting rid of every web we come across. We will do this weekly. We have also de cluttered the garden but that is more difficult to keep on top of.”
She added they are yet to go back into the loft and admitted they are dreading getting their Christmas decorations down but said each box will be searched with thick gloves.