Post by democracy on Jan 16, 2009 2:20:33 GMT
A grandmother spent more than 24 hours on a life support machine after being bitten by a spider.
Lyn Mitchell woke up struggling for breath when she was bit on the chest while in bed at her home in Cumbria.
The spider, later killed by pest control experts, was a false black widow, which usually causes blistering.
It is thought Mrs Mitchell, 52, of Egremont, suffered an allergic reaction and that the spider was attracted by the warmth of her electric blanket.
She was taken to the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven in the early hours of 3 January and spent 26 hours in intensive care.
Experts say false widow spiders are not usually aggressive, but can deliver a bite when they are unintentionally touched.
Mrs Mitchell said: "For 26 hours I was on life support.''
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/7831916.stm
