Student dies in one of UK’S rare fatalities linked to spider bite
A TEENAGE student died after being bitten by a spider at his university digs, just months after a housemate complained about a similar incident.
In what is believed to be one of Britain’s first spider-related deaths, Harry Bolton, 19, contracted sepsis within days of being bitten on the back in October last year.
The household had previously notified their landlord about a possible spider infestation when another housemate suffered a bad reaction from a bite, Hull Coroner’s Court heard.
An inspection was carried out following the complaint in August, but found no sign of a problem.
Less than two months later, on Oct 3,
Mr Bolton told friends a spider had bitten him on the back and he was not feeling well. They advised him to go to hospital as a precaution.
He went to Hull Royal Infirmary that night with a high temperature and high heart rate, but a blood test detected nothing of high risk beyond inflammation, the inquest was told.
Shortly after midnight, Mr Bolton discharged himself and told staff he would return for a check-up the next day. Four days later a housemate raised the alarm after not receiving an answer to a text. On-site security broke down his door and Mr Bolton was found dead inside.
Coroner Paul Marks determined that Harry Bolton’s death was caused by sepsis, due to an acute chest infection, due to an infected wound on his back.
He said: “Had he not been bitten by an invertebrate, possibly a spider, he would not have died at that time.
“It is an incredibly unfortunate case He had a promising future ahead of him.”
In 2014, Pat Gough-irwin, 60, died after being bitten by a false widow spider at her Hampshire home.
It is the only known previous death linked to a spider bite in Britain for at least the past 30 years.