A Castlewellan mum is now recovering well after a horrific bite from a poisonous false widow spider… in her home town.
South Down MLA Seán Rogers has spoken of his shock when he learned how a local 34-year old Castlewellan mother of four was bitten in early July by a venomous spider that had become trapped between her bed sheets.
Mr Rogers said: “At first I wrongly presumed this incident must have happened during a family holiday in the sun. I, like many, was taken aback to learn it happened locally and that sightings of the venomous attacking species known to be a ‘false widow spider’ is reportedly on the increase. Reassuringly, however, it has also been reported that attacks are very rare.
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A potentially venomous false widow spider[/caption]
“Aideen Hynes (34) was saved by her husband Darril’s swift action together with attentive medical care from her GP and doctors at the Downe Hospital, and thankfully this has resulted in a good recovery being made. I wish Aideen well as she continues to heal from what, I can only imagine, must have been a frightening and traumatic experience”.
As Aideen settled in bed a month ago, a venomous false widow spider hid beneath her bedclothes. And this did not happen in a tropical country, but in rainy County Down!
The creature bit her on the calf of her leg and she immediately leapt out of the bed realising she had been bitten, but Aideen did not see the spider as it had scuttled away and it hid somewhere in the bedroom. Her husband searched high and low and he too could not find it, but after a long search he eventually discovered where it was hiding and disposed of it back into the countryside.
Aideen knew that she had ben bitten by something serious as she had once kept reptiles and spiders herself. But this was a genuine intruder.
She gradually felt the toxic effect of its venom and was soon in terrible pain. By next day the venom has seriously kicked in and her leg has swollen to twice the size.
The venom spread through her leg which swelled to twice the size resulting in her being admitted to the day after the spider bite her with its posonous fangs. Her leg had swollen to double its size. Aideen said that the local chemist had advised that she saw her doctor immediately which she did and her GP sent her straight to the Downe Hospital.The poison was quickly spreading along her leg and the medics were concerned that they would have to remove the infected area. Aideen was in danger of losing a limb. The virulent venom destroys tissue and was spreading down to her ankle and foot.
Following four courses of antibiotics, Aideen now has the condition under control but it was touch and go for a couple of weeks when puss oozed from her wounds and with days of grimacing pain.
These spiders may be found in damp and dark habitats and if bitten by one, seek medical assistance immediately.
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