A student who was bitten by a spider while she slept on holiday in Wales has been left with a hole in her armpit.
Abby Tannetta, 18, who was at her parents’ caravan in Cardigan Bay Holiday Park celebrating the end of college when she was attacked, has spoken about her ordeal and how she still needs treatment.
The 18-year-old, from Caerphilly, woke up with a pain under her arm and saw a spider in her bed, and later had to be rushed into hospital and had emergency surgery to remove the bite.
"I was sent into the hospital. My heart rate was really high. My blood pressure was really high and I was really dehydrated. It was a really difficult experience - especially when they told me you are going to need surgery," she told BBC Radio Wales on Wednesday.
Abby has now been left with a hole in her arm and has to visit the hospital regularly where she needs to get it dressed.
Abby explained: "They put gauze and things like that inside the hole so it can’t close on its own. Otherwise I would be left with a big hole inside my body.”
Since the surgery Abby cannot sleep on her side and is in a lot of discomfort. Her mum has now learnt how to change it and she does it every few days.
The incident hasn’t put Abby off staying at the caravan though. She has a trip booked in a few weeks time and said: “I am pretty nervous but I do love it there. I love the beach. It is something I am willing to do.”
Previously, Abby said she managed to capture the spider in a Tupperware container and took a photo of the beast that bit her which she believes could be a false widow spider.
Days later, Abby was rushed into hospital for emergency surgery as doctors feared the young student could contract sepsis if the oozing infection was not halted.
Her scary encounter came just days after the British Arachnological Society (BAS) reported a "huge increase" in sightings of all species of spiders - including venomous false widows.
