Man, 59, develops horrific flesh-eating attack from tiny spider bite that grew into giant hole in his stomach
A small spider bite caused a big problem for a British holidaymaker, who was left with a hole in his stomach after being attacked by an eight-legged assailant.
Nigel Hunt, 59, from the Isles of Scilly, was bitten in the stomach one evening earlier this summer while he was lying in bed.
Mr Hunt, a window cleaner, thought it was just a minor irritation and went about his daily business, which included a holiday to Egypt.
But the journey would soon turn into a potentially deadly nightmare.
Mr Hunt became very ill a few days into his holiday and noticed that the area where the spider had bitten was getting bigger.
Nigel Hunt was bitten in the stomach as he lay in bed at home in St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly, just hours before flying to Egypt
He sought medical attention and eventually went to the hospital, where tests revealed he had necrotizing fasciitis, better known as the “flesh-eating disease,” which required him to cut away his muscles.
He sought medical attention and eventually went to the hospital, where tests revealed he had necrotizing fasciitis, better known as the “flesh-eating disease.”
This is a rare infection in which a wound in the skin and soft tissues of the body, such as a spider bite, becomes infected with bacteria.
These bacteria release toxins as they multiply, killing the surrounding tissues. Mr Hunt has since had to have part of his abdomen cut out to remove the now dead flesh.
He recalls: ‘When we arrived at the airport and went through the check-in desk, we went to the departure hall.
‘At that point, everything went downhill fast. I felt sick in the departure lounge and spent most of the journey with my head in a sick bag.
Upon arrival in Sharm El Sheikh we packed our things and went to the pharmacy for some antibiotics or something else to fight the illness.
‘They prescribed us some things and the next day we went to the hospital, where we were prescribed the same medicines.
‘The next two days it got worse and worse, so we went to another hospital in Hadaba, where I was immediately given radiation and an ultrasound.
‘Then we waited a few hours for the doctor to check the results. He called us and said it was a good thing we came because the bite was from a false widow or a brown recluse spider.’
Mr Hunt, a glazier, became seriously ill a few days after his holiday when the spider bite started to get bigger
Egyptian doctors told Hunt he was likely the victim of a bite from a false widow spider (pictured) or a brown recluse spider
Neither the false widow nor the brown recluse spider (pictured) are native to the UK, although they have been introduced here via fruit shipments and other imports
Although doctors initially thought he had a simple but painful abscess — a collection of pus from an infection — further tests revealed it was the much more serious necrotizing fasciitis.
Necrotizing fasciitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Treatment usually involves a course of antibiotics and surgery to remove the dead flesh.
Hunt said doctors told him he could have died if he had not sought medical attention for the bite.
“If I hadn’t gone to the hospital for a second check-up within six to 10 days, I would be dead now,” he said.
‘They haven’t given me a date yet for when the recovery can take place because the wound is still open and I have to have it bandaged every few days.
‘I just have to make sure it doesn’t spread again.
‘It was scary to go from healthy to sick in such a short time and then to be told you could die.
‘I can’t dive or snorkel, and I can’t go to the beach because sand can get into the wound. So I’m watching TV all the time, but I’m glad I’m still here.’
He urged his fellow Britons to be on the lookout for spiders to avoid dangerous bites.
Neither the false widow nor the brown recluse spider are native to the UK.
The false widow species was introduced to Britain about 100 years ago via the import of bananas from the Canary Islands and Madeira. However, it is now mainly found in the southern parts of the British Isles.
The brown recluse spider is much rarer in the UK. It is a North American species of spider that is occasionally imported accidentally.
NHS data for England shows that 11 people needed hospital treatment for spider bites in 2022-2023, the latest figures available.
This figure only includes admissions of venomous spiders, not infections resulting from bites, as in the case of Mr Hunt.