Overview
- Chris Keegan, 40, noticed a tiny pinprick on his right hand that reddened, and two antibiotic courses failed as his hand swelled and turned purple.
- Hospital surgeons removed necrotising tissue within hours; he spent five days in hospital and was discharged with six stitches and a scar.
- Keegan is recovering at home and says the infection seemed resistant to antibiotics, a point reported as his account rather than a clinical finding.
- The precise source of the bite remains unconfirmed, though coverage references false widows after BBC Countryfile highlighted the spiders’ wider spread in Britain.
- Reports cite nearly 100 UK hospitalisations for spider bites in 2024 and share guidance to wash bites, apply a cold compress, and contact NHS 111 if symptoms persist or worsen.