Buzz
Arachnophobia, the intense fear of spiders, is surprisingly widespread. Often, people have no idea which spiders are the most dangerous and which ones are relatively safe, but they aren't willing to take the risk. They quickly kill these terrifying creatures or flee as fast as they can.
While spider-related deaths are rare in comparison to other causes, this list presents numerous instances that clearly demonstrate the rationality behind the fear of spiders.
10. Ronald Reese
In 2013, a 62-year-old man named Ronald Reese was bitten by a spider while residing in Florida. He was working on renovations in his home when a sudden sharp pain struck his neck.
Although Ronald never saw the spider that bit him, doctors suspect it was most likely a brown recluse. These spiders typically hide in sheds, garages, and other man-made structures where they can remain dry and build their nests. Most people never realize these creatures have taken residence on their property until it’s too late.
For six months, Reese endured excruciating pain and underwent several medical procedures as the spider's venom spread throughout his body. In severe cases like his, bites from recluse spiders result in lesions that create gaping wounds which ooze pus. Despite the doctors' best efforts to save him, Ronald Reese tragically passed away in early 2014.
9. Jayden Burleigh
In 2016, 22-year-old Jayden Burleigh, an outdoor enthusiast, was walking along the northern coast of New South Wales, Australia, when he was bitten by a redback spider during his bushwalk.
A large, throbbing abscess formed under Burleigh's arm, affecting his glands. He spent four days in the hospital where doctors drained the abscess and administered antibiotics to treat the bite. It remains uncertain whether he received the redback spider antivenom. The doctors were optimistic about his recovery, so they discharged him.
Bites from redback spiders are fairly common in Australia, and most victims recover after receiving treatment. However, the healing process can vary. In Burleigh's case, he had been in a car accident just a week prior to the spider bite, leaving his body in a weakened condition. Despite initial hopes, he continued to feel unwell and tragically passed away about a week later.
8. Scott Clement
In 2018, the McCormick & Schmick’s Harborside restaurant in Portland, Oregon, faced a spider infestation. The owners contacted an extermination service, Ecolab, to spray and eliminate the unwanted guests.
Many businesses have annual contracts with pest control companies, paying a flat fee for unlimited on-demand services. It's crucial for restaurants to comply with health regulations whenever there's any sign of pests.
Despite this, Ecolab never showed up. The restaurant made multiple calls to the company, but they never arrived to treat the spider infestation. As a result, restaurant manager Scott Clement was bitten by a brown recluse spider and had to spend three days in the hospital.
Bites from brown recluse spiders can cause red, open sores and ulcers, along with physical pain and nausea. Clement is now pursuing legal action against the pest control company, seeking nearly $1 million in damages.
7. Jedediah Mullins
In 2010, while on a trip to Cleveland, Ohio, Jedediah Mullins was bitten by a spider carrying flesh-eating bacteria. He was in his early thirties at the time.
Over the next eight years, the bacteria slowly consumed Jedediah's body. In an effort to save his life, doctors amputated infected limbs. He lost both legs, most of one arm, an eye, an ear, and parts of his scalp. Eventually, he became unable to care for himself and was placed in a nursing home. He passed away in 2018.
Although the type of spider responsible was never officially identified, it was most likely a brown recluse, which is common in the U.S. and sometimes carries flesh-eating bacteria. One account of Mullins’s story mentioned that he fell ill just one week after being bitten, which further weakened his immune system and made him more vulnerable to the bacteria.
6. Kailyn Donovan
Five-year-old Kailyn Donovan enjoyed spending time playing outside in the backyard. So, when her mother, Kristine, noticed a dark spot on Kailyn’s leg, she assumed it was just a small bruise from the girl’s outdoor play. However, by the next morning, the bruise had transformed into a large black area of necrotic tissue. Kailyn was rushed to the emergency room.
It was later revealed that Kailyn had been bitten by a black widow spider, though she never felt it. Since she had been wearing jeans, it’s likely the spider crawled inside her pants before biting her leg.
Experts explain that black widow spiders do not actively chase or attack people unless provoked. Kailyn’s mother believes that the landscaping work they were doing in the backyard that day disturbed the spider. The family hired an exterminator to treat the property.
5. Victoria Ross
Victoria and Brian Ross, a newlywed couple from England, were enjoying their honeymoon in Jamaica in 2017, just two weeks after their wedding. During their vacation, Victoria was bitten by a venomous violin spider, just an hour into their holiday. At first, she felt pain and became ill, but she decided to see a doctor once they returned home.
The flesh and muscle on her leg began to decay, and massive pus-filled boils appeared on her skin. When doctors in the United Kingdom saw the extent of the damage, they feared they might have to amputate her leg. Fortunately, they managed to treat the infection and save her leg. While most would be left traumatized, Ross says she’s just thankful to be alive.
In an unbelievable twist, Victoria had been bitten on the same leg by a venomous snake back in 2004 while visiting the Liverpool Docks. As she put it, “You couldn’t make it up if you tried.”
4. Vacation From Hell
A 22-year-old woman from the Netherlands, who chose to remain anonymous in the media, was bitten on the ear by a Mediterranean recluse spider while vacationing in Italy. She immediately went to a hospital in Italy, where they administered an antihistamine, assuming the bite was merely an allergic reaction.
By the time she returned home, the skin around the bite had begun swelling and liquefying. A large section of her ear turned black as the tissue began to die. To prevent the venom from spreading, doctors had to remove most of her ear.
Doctors explained that the venom of the Mediterranean recluse contains a unique combination of chemicals, making it extremely difficult to counteract. After removing the necrotic tissue, the doctors performed reconstructive surgery, using bones from her rib to rebuild her ear. Thankfully, her ear looks completely normal now, and she can continue her life without lasting effects.
3. John Francis Kennedy
In 2014, John Francis Kennedy, a 48-year-old man from Cork, Ireland, felt a sudden bite on his neck. He swatted at what he thought was an insect, and he and his wife looked down to find a black spider with a red back.
Though it resembled a dangerous black widow, it is unlikely that it was one, as they are not native to Ireland. The bite left two deep fang marks on his neck. Later, when they opened their daughter’s schoolbag, they discovered that it was filled with cobwebs—the spider had made its nest there. They quickly killed it and disposed of the body.
After being bitten, Mr. Kennedy felt something was wrong with his throat. However, there were no immediate signs like lesions or rashes that would have prompted him to seek medical help. Months later, he began experiencing severe throat pain and vomited blood.
His esophagus had ruptured. Mrs. Kennedy told the doctors about the strange black-and-red spider, hoping they could make a connection. But the doctors dismissed the possibility, suggesting it was a mere coincidence. Mrs. Kennedy remains convinced that the spider was responsible for her husband's death.
2. Burn It All Down
Under U.S. law, an “injury” can also refer to financial loss rather than just physical harm. In this case, a spider is responsible for $11,000 worth of damages.
In early 2018, a man in Northern California discovered a massive wolf spider in his apartment. The venom of a wolf spider typically causes pain and irritation, but it is not deadly. Despite their size, these spiders will leap and attack if provoked, which can be terrifying, especially for someone with arachnophobia.
The man had no tools to kill or capture the spider, other than a lighter in his pocket. Perhaps the fear clouded his judgment, leading him to set the spider on fire. However, the spider didn’t die. Instead, it jumped onto the bed, igniting the mattress and nearby curtains.
The fire department was called to put out the blaze.
1. Noor Azmeera Sahudin
In September 2017, Noor Azmeera Sahudin, a Malaysian woman, was enjoying a family vacation in Turkey. Her family had booked a tour that included many exciting activities, including a scenic hot-air balloon ride. While she admired the breathtaking views, Sahudin never expected that a spider would crawl up her leg and bite her, injecting venom into her bloodstream.
At first, Sahudin had no idea she had been bitten by a spider. She only noticed intense pain in her leg and asked the tour guide to take her to a hospital, where she needed help communicating her symptoms to the doctors.
The doctors administered antibiotics, but since she hadn’t seen the spider, they didn’t give her antivenom. Unfortunately, the medication didn’t alleviate her pain. The agonizing discomfort spread from her leg to her waist, and in her final moments, she succumbed to the pain. She passed away in the hospital, and her family arranged for her body to be returned to Malaysia.
