Latest news with #HughMarsh
Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Tourist's horror condition after bite from Australian spider that reached UK
Hugh Marsh, aged 30, was in the Cotswolds for their cousin's wedding when they reached into their shoe to find a spider from Australia had hitched a ride all the way to England A tourist in the Cotswolds was left with their hand swollen "like a balloon" after a spider from Australia hitched a ride in their shoes - and waited years to strike. Hugh Marsh, 30, from Perth, was in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, for their cousin's wedding when they pulled what they thought was a wedge of tissue from the toe of their left shoe. Moments later, their skin began to itch and turn red. "I looked in thinking there was a wedge of tissue in the toe, and pulled it out, like you would, with my fingers. That's when I noticed my hand starting to feel itchy and saw the hairs," they said. "I immediately knew something was wrong." By the next day, Hugh's hand had blown up "like a blimp". Hugh said: "My whole hand was swollen like a balloon. It was as if I'd stuck my hand into a pile of cactuses. Extremely fine short hairs covered my middle and index finger, from the tips to the middle knuckle." Hugh believes it was a Badumna insignis - the black house spider - after comparing it with online photos. Native to Australia, the species carries an excruciatingly painful bite that can cause nausea, vomiting, sweating, dizziness and even skin necrosis. Luckily for Hugh, the spider was already dead. They added: "It was a black spider with thin legs and large mandibles, about the size of an Australian 50 cent coin. It had been deceased for a while by the looks of it. It was like it had gone into the shoe, wrapped itself in a cocoon of webbing and died." The Aussie event photographer reckons the shoes had been sitting untouched in the closet for two or three years before the trip. "Thankfully it was just the spider hairs that stuck into my fingers and not an actual bite - I'd be a little worried how that could've gone," they added. Hugh was able to attend the wedding with the help of paracetamol before seeking medical advice. A strong antihistamine was prescribed, but the swelling took a week to subside. Looking back, they can see the humour in it. "I think it's pretty funny overall," Hugh said. Households in the UK have been urged to "seal windows and doors" as the spider season kicks off. Reports suggest that the season, which sees an increase in house spider sightings, has started earlier than usual. In Ireland, for example the spider season (a period when male spiders enter homes in search of mates) is already underway.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Venomous spider with ‘excruciating bite' arrives in UK as tourist's hand blows up ‘like a BLIMP' in skin-crawling pics
Hugh Marsh said the pain was like 'sticking his hand into a pile of cactuses' CREEPING IN Venomous spider with 'excruciating bite' arrives in UK as tourist's hand blows up 'like a BLIMP' in skin-crawling pics A VENOMOUS spider with an 'excruciating bite' has arrived in the UK as a tourist's hand swelled up 'like a blimp' after coming into contact with the creepy-crawly. Hugh Marsh from Perth, Australia, was in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, for his cousin's wedding when he found the stowaway in his shoes. 5 Hugh Marsh believes he came in contact with a black house spider from Australia Credit: Credit: Pengo Wray via Pen News 5 Hugh's hand swelled up 'like a balloon' after he came in contact with the spider Credit: Credit: Hugh Marsh/Pen News 5 The Aussie tourist had flown to the UK to attend the wedding of his cousin Credit: Credit: Hugh Marsh/Pen News Initially thinking there was a wedge of tissue in the toe, he reached in and pulled it out, only to discover seconds later that it was webbing. With his hand reddened and itchy, Mr Marsh quickly washed it - but it was too late, and the next day it was blown up like a "blimp". "I discovered it in my left shoe just before a wedding," the 30-year-old said. "I looked in thinking there was a wedge of tissue in the toe, and pulled it out, like you would, with my fingers. Read More on Spiders HUNG FROM A WEB New tarantula packs record-breaking genitalia to avoid being eaten by MATE "That's when I noticed my hand starting to feel itchy and saw the hairs." Hugh said he "immediately" knew something was wrong. He added: "I washed my hands thoroughly, but the damage was done. "And I had a wedding to go to, so hoped it was just a small effect. "I didn't expect the blimp of a hand the next day." Giant huntsman spider lurking in his bunch of Aldi bananas He added: "My whole hand was swollen like a balloon." Images captured by Mr Marsh show his hand puffed up in reaction to the spider's hairs. "It was as if I'd stuck my hand into a pile of cactuses," he said. "Extremely fine short hairs covered my middle and index finger, from the tips to the middle knuckle." The Aussie event photographer reckons he hadn't worn the shoes for two or three years before the big day, and that they'd been in his closet the whole time. And though he didn't photograph the spider and is unsure of the species, he thinks it could have been a 'Badumna insignis' after looking at pictures. An Australian native species, it's better known as the black house spider, and is more dangerous than its name suggests, packing an excruciatingly painful bite. Some victims have reported nausea, vomiting, sweating, dizziness, and even skin necrosis from their venom. Hugh is just relieved the spider was already dead. He said: "It was a black spider with thin legs and large mandibles, about the size of an Australian 50 cent coin. "It had been deceased for a while by the looks of it. "It was like it had gone into the shoe, wrapped itself in a cocoon of webbing and died." He continued: "I think it's pretty funny overall. "Thankfully it was just the spider hairs that stuck into my fingers and not an actual bite - I'd be a little worried how that could've gone." Hugh was able to enjoy the wedding with paracetamol before seeking medical attention. He was advised to use a strong antihistamine, but said it took a week for the swelling to go down. The news comes just days after it was revealed that a giant wasp spider has been discovered in the UK. The rare spider with a wasp-like body has been found in a garden in Norfolk - and they're slowly spreading across the nation. 5 Hugh's shocking injuries were caused by him simply touching the spider's hairs Credit: Credit: Hugh Marsh/Pen News
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Venomous spider with ‘excruciating bite' arrives in UK as tourist's hand blows up ‘like a BLIMP' in skin-crawling pics
Hugh Marsh said the pain was like 'sticking his hand into a pile of cactuses' CREEPING IN Venomous spider with 'excruciating bite' arrives in UK as tourist's hand blows up 'like a BLIMP' in skin-crawling pics Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A VENOMOUS spider with an 'excruciating bite' has arrived in the UK as a tourist's hand swelled up 'like a blimp' after coming into contact with the creepy-crawly. Hugh Marsh from Perth, Australia, was in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, for his cousin's wedding when he found the stowaway in his shoes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Hugh Marsh believes he came in contact with a black house spider from Australia Credit: Credit: Pengo Wray via Pen News 5 Hugh's hand swelled up 'like a balloon' after he came in contact with the spider Credit: Credit: Hugh Marsh/Pen News 5 The Aussie tourist had flown to the UK to attend the wedding of his cousin Credit: Credit: Hugh Marsh/Pen News Initially thinking there was a wedge of tissue in the toe, he reached in and pulled it out, only to discover seconds later that it was webbing. With his hand reddened and itchy, Mr Marsh quickly washed it - but it was too late, and the next day it was blown up like a "blimp". "I discovered it in my left shoe just before a wedding," the 30-year-old said. "I looked in thinking there was a wedge of tissue in the toe, and pulled it out, like you would, with my fingers. Read More on Spiders HUNG FROM A WEB New tarantula packs record-breaking genitalia to avoid being eaten by MATE "That's when I noticed my hand starting to feel itchy and saw the hairs." Hugh said he "immediately" knew something was wrong. He added: "I washed my hands thoroughly, but the damage was done. "And I had a wedding to go to, so hoped it was just a small effect. "I didn't expect the blimp of a hand the next day." Giant huntsman spider lurking in his bunch of Aldi bananas He added: "My whole hand was swollen like a balloon." Images captured by Mr Marsh show his hand puffed up in reaction to the spider's hairs. "It was as if I'd stuck my hand into a pile of cactuses," he said. "Extremely fine short hairs covered my middle and index finger, from the tips to the middle knuckle." The Aussie event photographer reckons he hadn't worn the shoes for two or three years before the big day, and that they'd been in his closet the whole time. And though he didn't photograph the spider and is unsure of the species, he thinks it could have been a 'Badumna insignis' after looking at pictures. An Australian native species, it's better known as the black house spider, and is more dangerous than its name suggests, packing an excruciatingly painful bite. Some victims have reported nausea, vomiting, sweating, dizziness, and even skin necrosis from their venom. Hugh is just relieved the spider was already dead. He said: "It was a black spider with thin legs and large mandibles, about the size of an Australian 50 cent coin. "It had been deceased for a while by the looks of it. "It was like it had gone into the shoe, wrapped itself in a cocoon of webbing and died." He continued: "I think it's pretty funny overall. "Thankfully it was just the spider hairs that stuck into my fingers and not an actual bite - I'd be a little worried how that could've gone." Hugh was able to enjoy the wedding with paracetamol before seeking medical attention. He was advised to use a strong antihistamine, but said it took a week for the swelling to go down. The news comes just days after it was revealed that a giant wasp spider has been discovered in the UK. The rare spider with a wasp-like body has been found in a garden in Norfolk - and they're slowly spreading across the nation. 5 Hugh's shocking injuries were caused by him simply touching the spider's hairs Credit: Credit: Hugh Marsh/Pen News
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Venomous spider with ‘excruciating bite' arrives in UK as tourist's hand blows up ‘like a BLIMP' in skin-crawling pics
A VENOMOUS spider with an 'excruciating bite' has arrived in the UK as a tourist's hand swelled up 'like a blimp' after coming into contact with the creepy-crawly. Hugh Marsh from Perth, Australia, was in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, for his cousin's wedding when he found the stowaway in his shoes. 5 5 Initially thinking there was a wedge of tissue in the toe, he reached in and pulled it out, only to discover seconds later that it was webbing. With his hand reddened and itchy, Mr Marsh quickly washed it - but it was too late, and the next day it was blown up like a "blimp". "I discovered it in my left shoe just before a wedding," the 30-year-old said. "I looked in thinking there was a wedge of tissue in the toe, and pulled it out, like you would, with my fingers. "That's when I noticed my hand starting to feel itchy and saw the hairs." Hugh said he "immediately" knew something was wrong. He added: "I washed my hands thoroughly, but the damage was done. "And I had a wedding to go to, so hoped it was just a small effect. "I didn't expect the blimp of a hand the next day." He added: "My whole hand was swollen like a balloon." Images captured by Mr Marsh show his hand puffed up in reaction to the spider 's hairs. "It was as if I'd stuck my hand into a pile of cactuses," he said. "Extremely fine short hairs covered my middle and index finger, from the tips to the middle knuckle." The Aussie event photographer reckons he hadn't worn the shoes for two or three years before the big day, and that they'd been in his closet the whole time. And though he didn't photograph the spider and is unsure of the species, he thinks it could have been a 'Badumna insignis' after looking at pictures. An Australian native species, it's better known as the black house spider, and is more dangerous than its name suggests, packing an excruciatingly painful bite. Some victims have reported nausea, vomiting, sweating, dizziness, and even skin necrosis from their venom. Hugh is just relieved the spider was already dead. He said: "It was a black spider with thin legs and large mandibles, about the size of an Australian 50 cent coin. "It had been deceased for a while by the looks of it. "It was like it had gone into the shoe, wrapped itself in a cocoon of webbing and died." He continued: "I think it's pretty funny overall. "Thankfully it was just the spider hairs that stuck into my fingers and not an actual bite - I'd be a little worried how that could've gone." Hugh was able to enjoy the wedding with paracetamol before seeking medical attention. He was advised to use a strong antihistamine, but said it took a week for the swelling to go down. The news comes just days after it was revealed that a giant wasp spider has been discovered in the UK. The rare spider with a wasp-like body has been found in a garden in Norfolk - and they're slowly spreading across the nation. 5 5
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Australian spider with an 'excruciating bite' arrives in Britain: Cotswolds tourist is left with a hand 'like a balloon' after encounter
A Cotswolds tourist was left with his hand swollen 'like a balloon' after a spider from Australia followed him from the other side of the world. Hugh Marsh from Perth, Australia, was in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, for his cousin's wedding when he found the stowaway in his shoes. Initially thinking there was a wedge of tissue in the toe, he reached in and pulled it out, only to discover seconds later that it was webbing. With his hand reddened and itchy, Mr Marsh quickly washed it – but it was too late, and the next day it was blown up like a 'blimp'. 'I discovered it in my left shoe just before a wedding,' the 30-year-old said. 'I looked in thinking there was a wedge of tissue in the toe, and pulled it out, like you would, with my fingers. 'That's when I noticed my hand starting to feel itchy and saw the hairs.' Hugh says he 'immediately' knew something was wrong. He said: 'I washed my hands thoroughly, but the damage was done. 'And I had a wedding to go to, so hoped it was just a small effect. 'I didn't expect the blimp of a hand the next day.' He added: 'My whole hand was swollen like a balloon.' Images captured by Mr Marsh show his hand puffed up in reaction to the spider's hairs. 'It was as if I'd stuck my hand into a pile of cactuses,' he said. 'Extremely fine short hairs covered my middle and index finger, from the tips to the middle knuckle.' The Aussie event photographer reckons he hadn't worn the shoes for two or three years before the big day, and that they'd been in his closet the whole time. Though he didn't photograph the spider and is unsure of the species, he thinks it could have been a Badumna insignis after looking at pictures Black house spider Black House Spiders are widely distributed across southern and eastern Australia. They are timid animals, and bites from them are infrequent. The bite may be quite painful and cause local swelling. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sweating and giddiness are occasionally recorded. In a few cases skin lesions have developed after multiple bites. Source: Australian Museum And though he didn't photograph the spider and is unsure of the species, he thinks it could have been a Badumna insignis after looking at pictures. An Australian native species, it's better known as the black house spider, and is more dangerous than its name suggests, packing an excruciatingly painful bite. Some victims have reported nausea, vomiting, sweating, dizziness, and even skin necrosis from their venom. Hugh is just relieved the spider was already dead. He said: 'It was a black spider with thin legs and large mandibles, about the size of an Australian 50 cent coin. 'It had been deceased for a while by the looks of it. 'It was like it had gone into the shoe, wrapped itself in a cocoon of webbing and died.' He continued: 'I think it's pretty funny overall. 'Thankfully it was just the spider hairs that stuck into my fingers and not an actual bite – I'd be a little worried how that could've gone.' Hugh was able to enjoy the wedding with paracetamol before seeking medical attention. He was advised to use a strong antihistamine, but said it took a week for the swelling to go down.
