A DAD was bitten by a false widow spider hiding in his slipper – now his toe is rotting off and doctors are going to amputate it.
Frank Fox, 60, spotted the arachnid crawling out of his slipper and onto his foot after he came in from the garden in December 2021.
Frank Fox, 60, spotted the arachnid crawling out of his slipper in December 2021Kennedy News
Kennedy NewsA few hours later Frank noticed a blister on his left big toe[/caption]
His son stomped on the spider, but a few hours later Frank noticed a blister on his left big toe and popped, cleaned and put talcum powder on it.
Weeks later the blister grew to the size of a 5p piece and Frank visited his GP practice where a nurse cleaned and dressed the wound.
The Type 1 diabetic was referred to a hospital podiatry department where doctors confirmed he’d been bitten by a false widow spider.
Frank was prescribed antibiotics and given bi-weekly dressing changes but the wound refused to heal and the infection started to devour the tissue, skin, nail and bone in his toe.
The dad-of-three, who claims the incident has left him with a severe phobia of spiders, demanded docs amputate his toe – a surgery he’s due to have next week.
He’s now speaking out about his living nightmare to urge anyone bitten to seek medical help immediately.
Frank, from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, said: “My toe is literally rotting off. When I got bitten I ignored it, I didn’t think anything of it.
What is a false widow spider?
Although the arachnid’s venom usually has a mild effect on humans, some people have come down with horror injuries after reacting badly to being nipped.
They have been known to infest sheds and houses, leading to fears homeowners may unwittingly be living with them.
The most common type is a noble false widow and is the largest of the three most common species, reaching a body length of between 8.5 and 11 millimetres.
The species is native to the Canary Islands and Madeira, but it gradually spread throughout Europe.
“It’s left a hole that I’ve pulled bone out from. I can put my index finger into it and push down to the bottom of my toe.
“If I put any pressure on it I now I’d go straight through the bottom of my toe.”
Frank continued: “It was painful, I couldn’t walk on it. It’s eaten up to the toenail, that’s not even scabbed anymore it’s just hard skin.
“I can get hold of the toe and I can pull it forward like it’s a piece of loose plasticine.
“I told the surgeon ‘I want this toe taken off’. Initially they said they couldn’t because of the infection and [was told] ‘if we operate the infection will just spread further up your toe’.
“But now I’m on antibiotics that’s suiting me they’re saying I can have the surgery, which I’m due next week. I’m worried sick about this operation.”
Despite growing up with pet spiders, Frank says the experience has also mentally scarred him and left him with a fear of them.
Frank said: “I grew up with spiders. My sister used to breed tarantulas, they used to walk all over me.
“Now I can’t stand spiders, I’m scared of them. I have bad dreams about them.
“I have to call my son if there’s a spider in the bath to get rid of it, I really can’t even look at them.”
Weeks later the blister grew to the size of a 5p pieceKennedy News
Kennedy NewsThe dad-of-three demanded docs amputate his toe[/caption] Read More