Talk about a night gone wrong! Young Robert Saniola-Burlton, a 16-year-old from Sittingbourne, had a wild encounter while searching for his missing cat, Rusty. On their nightly hunt, Robert and his mum, Virva, combed through nearby bushes hoping to find the two-year-old feline. Little did they know, the real critter waiting to find them was a false widow spider!
Upon returning home, Robert discovered a mysterious lump on his knee. Initially thinking it was a bee sting, he soon had painful blisters forming, which popped to reveal a mix of blood and pus. The doctor confirmed the gruesome source: a false widow spider bite. 😱
Poor Robert had to endure several visits to a walk-in centre for treatment, where doctors removed dead skin and prescribed antibiotics to fight the infection. Scarily, his leg felt like it was on fire, and the swelling made walking a challenge. Luckily, Robert recovered in two weeks, but he’s now marked with a scar and quite the story he’ll probably never forget.
His mum, Virva, who was equally terrified by the ordeal, said it made her more vigilant. “This experience has made me even more petrified of spiders,” she confessed, advising others to be cautious and consider keeping spider repellent handy.
Here’s hoping Rusty shows up soon and that the only eight-legged encounters these two have in the future are from a safe distance! 🕷️🐾
Stay safe, everyone, especially when searching those late-night hiding spots in your garden or park!