A British man has described his horrifying encounter with a Peruvian wolf spider that laid its eggs in his toe during a romantic cruise holiday, he claims.
Colin Blake, from Cramlington, Northumberland, revealed that pus oozed from his purple foot in a French hospital before one spider tried to eat its way out.
After his toe turned purple overnight, he was terrified and rushed to the ship’s doctor who told him that a Peruvian wolf spider had bitten him and laid eggs in his toe.
It happened while he and his wife were having a meal outdoors in Marseille.
Colin told BBC Radio Scotland’s Drivetime show he was ‘totally unaware’ he had been bitten as the spider numbs its prey before laying its eggs.
Colin Blake, from Cramlington, Northumberland, was bitten while he and his wife were having a meal outdoors in Marseille.
Colin’s toe as he lies in hospital in France. He said the medical staff cut his toe open with a scalpel and a milk-like pus came out
He said: ‘My wife thought it may be because I had new sandals and they were rubbing on my big toe and that was causing it to be red.’
The next day his toe had become swollen and turned purple, prompting a trip to the ship’s doctor.
The medical staff cut his toe open with a scalpel and a milk-like pus came out.
The pus looked like it contained tea leaves, which turned out to be spider eggs.
Peruvian wolf spiders live in France after arriving in the area on cargo ships.
Colin’s lying hospital in France. He said ‘My wife thought it may be because I had new sandals and they were rubbing on my big toe and that was causing it to be red’
Peruvian wolf spiders live in France after arriving in the area on cargo ships (File Photo)
Back in the UK, Colin was treated at hospital and was given a course of antibiotics to reduce the swelling.
Once the swelling subsided, the spider’s fang marks could be seen as well as the toxin making his way through his foot.
Four weeks after the bite, he discovered a ‘foreign body’ in his foot.
He said: ‘One of the spider eggs hadn’t been flushed and must have hatched.
‘They believe the spider was making its way out – eating its way out of my toe.’
The antibiotics had killed the young spider and doctors then removed it by cutting open his toe.
‘I did ask if I could keep it, but they said no!’ said Colin, who is set to make a full recovery.