Gran bitten by a spider while hanging out the washing almost killed and left with a gaping hole in her stomach
A GRAN’S ‘paranoid’ hunt for spiders in her bedroom every night didn’t stop one from sinking its fangs into her.
Karen Ashmore feels lucky to be alive after she was unknowingly bitten by a spider last month, which later developed into sepsis.
“I never thought a spider could cause this sort of damage, I could’ve easily lost my life,” the 56-year-old said,
The mum-of-four, who lives in Dukinfield, Manchester, believes she may have been targeted by the arachnid while hanging out her washing or gardening outside.
“I had just had a shower and noticed I had a spot on my stomach. It was only the size of a drawing pin,” she explained.
Initially, she thought the bite was a heat rash or acne spot before the mark began feeling “sore and itchy”.
When her skin started flaking around the edges, Karen decided to visit her pharmacist who informed her she’d been bitten by an eight-legged creature.
Days later the grandma-of-ten’s stomach began swelling, prompting the mum to rush to A&E.
She was told the spider venom had caused an abscess in her stomach – and she was currently fighting sepsis.
“It was very painful. I didn’t know what to think,” she explained.
Sepsis is a serious condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection.
It causes extensive inflammation throughout your body that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and even death.
The next day the mum underwent emergency surgery to cut out a chunk of her stomach where the spider had sunk in its fangs.
The gran was left with an open wound after the operation and will have to wait for the skin to grow over for the area to be fully healed.
“It was as big as a £1 coin and the hole I was left with was about two centimetres deep,” she said.
I’m paranoid now [since the bite] about all creepy-crawlies. I’m checking all the nooks and crannies in the house
Karen Ashmore
Karen was told her skin would “always be very thin” in the bitten area.
“It’s left me scarred for life,” she explained.
The mum still doesn’t know where the bite came from, but suspected it could have happened while she was outside.
“It could’ve been on the washing when I brought the washing in or I could’ve been bitten when I was in the garden cleaning,” she explained.
Karen is now urging others to always seek medical help if they see a suspicious new spot on their body.
She said: “I’m paranoid now [since the bite] about all creepy-crawlies. I’m checking all the nooks and crannies in the house now.
“I would encourage anyone else to go to the doctors as soon as they can if they see a new spot on them. I regret not going sooner.”
Spiders in the UK: What's Creeping in Your Home?
It's not just us humans, who are attracted to home comforts. Spiders are too.
Here are some common spiders found in the UK:
1. House Spider (Tegenaria domestica)
- Appearance: Brown with long legs, up to 12mm body length
- Habitat: Common in homes, especially basements and attics
- Health Risk: Low. Rarely bites, are harmless to humans
2. Daddy Long-Legs Spider (Pholcus phalangioides)
- Appearance: Long, thin legs with small bodies, usually light brown or grey
- Habitat: Warm, dark corners of homes, like garages and sheds
- Health Risk: Low. Harmless to humans, known to prey on other spiders
3. False Widow Spider (Steatoda nobilis)
- Appearance: Glossy, dark brown with bulbous bodies and a distinctive cream marking
- Habitat: Urban areas, gardens, and inside houses
- Health Risk: Moderate. Can bite, causing pain and swelling, but serious reactions are rare
4. Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)
- Appearance: Varied colours with a distinctive white cross on the abdomen.
- Habitat: Gardens, woodlands, and hedgerows
- Health Risk: Low. Non-aggressive and bites are rare, similar to a bee sting
5. Wolf Spider (Lycosidae family)
- Appearance: Hairy, brown or grey with good camouflage
- Habitat: Ground-dwelling, found in leaf litter and under rocks
- Health Risk: Low. Can bite if threatened, causing mild pain and itching
6. Cardinal Spider (Tegenaria parietina)
- Appearance: Large, up to 14cm leg span, reddish-brown
- Habitat: Old buildings, cellars, and walls
- Health Risk: Low. Rarely bites, no significant threat to humans
Most UK spiders are harmless and prefer to avoid humans. False Widows are the only ones to watch out for, but serious issues are rare.
So next time you see a spider, remember: they’re more scared of you than you are of them