The sap from a toxic plant found in woodland and common land in the UK has caused horrifying burns to a dog walker.
Just hours after brushing past the plants, he began feeling a burning sensation on his leg.
By 3pm following the morning encounter, the burning had turned into a rash and by 5pm, the rash turned into 'enormous', angry blisters.
A trip to Manchester Royal Infirmary walk-in centre followed at 7pm where doctors burst the first blister.
Pictures of the injuries experienced by a 56-year-old who was walking his dog have been shared by Manchester Evening News (MEN).
The walker had brushed against Giant Hogweed, botanical name Heracleum mantegazzianum, which, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), "can cause severe skin burns" and "poses a serious risk to people who are unaware of its potential for harm".
In fact, the walker and his wife initially thought the outbreak could have been a 'heat rash', before thinking he could have been bitten by a 'snake or insect'.
The Stockport resident told the MEN: "I didn't realise what I was dealing with. In fact, at first, I didn't know what had caused the problem.
"I thought it was a snake or insect bite, but I couldn't remember being bitten.
"The blister was growing as I was looking at it."
He added: "It wasn't until days later we found images online of other people's injuries from this plant, which were identical to my own. I went back to my route and found this plant growing next to the path where I had walked.
"It is very easy to brush against it."
Although the walk-in centre doctor burst the first blister, another grew back and the walker says he's been forced to go back to the doctors almost daily.
"I have been to the doctors almost every day since Tuesday, as the situation has progressed day on day," he continues.
"For the first four days, my leg was swollen from my foot up to my knee.
"I have been feeling nauseous and my skin has been sensitive generally."
RHS says that Giant hogweed is a close relative of cow parsley but this variant is originally from Southern Russia and Georgia and can reach over 3m (10ft) in height.
According to the Woodland Trust, the toxic plant particularly thrives in the warm temperatures that have hit the region this week.
The sap is extremely toxic to humans and animals, causing horrific burns on the skin.
The skin remains sensitive to UV light for many years - and can even cause blindness if near the eyes.
The Woodland Trust advises anyone who touches Giant Hogweed to wash the area thoroughly immediately.
You should also seek medical advice, and do not expose the area to sunlight for a few days.
How to recognise giant hogweed
The Woodland Trust says look out for the following:
Stems: Green with purple blotches and stiff, white hairs. Stems are hollow with ridges and have a thick circle of hairs at base of each leaf stalk.
Leaves: Huge, up to 1.5m wide and 3m long and is deeply divided into smaller leaflets. It looks a bit like a rhubarb leaf, with irregular and very sharp or jagged edges – which has given rise to one of its other common names – wild rhubarb. The underside of the leaf is hairy.
Flowers: Appear in June and July. They are small and white (or slightly pink) and are clustered on umbrella-like heads known as umbels that can reach a diameter of 60cm. All the flowers on the umbel face upwards.
Seeds: Dry, flattened, and oval. Almost 1cm long with tan with brown lines extending 3/4 of the seed length.
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