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A grandmother has died after being bitten on the finger by a false widow spider, her family have claimed.
Pat Gough-Irwin, 60, was bitten by the UK’s most venomous spider in her Hampshire home about a month ago. However, her pain gradually increased and she was forced to have the end of her finger amputated.
But after weeks of ‘absolute agony’, Mrs Gough-Irwin died in hospital on Friday. Hospital bosses are now investigating whether the spider bite caused her death which would be the first such death in Britain.
Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Julie Lungley, 43, who is one of Mrs Gough-Irwin’s four daughters, said she had been left ‘numb and in total shock’.
A neighbours, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was "devastated" before adding: "She was genuine, warm and caring – and a good friend."
Mrs Gough-Irwin first visited her GP after she was bitten at her Aldershot home. But she was eventually admitted to hospital in severe pain and had the top part of her finger amputated on Saturday November 1.
But, her family say she was left ‘confused and hallucinating’ as her condition went downhill before she eventually died.
Bosses at Frimley Park Hospital in Camberley, Surrey said the case is now being reviewed while the GP surgery where the 60-year-old is thought to have attended declined to comment.
Last month, a mum bitten by a false widow spider a year ago claimed she is in so much pain she cannot even hug her children.
Mum-of-four Carol Veitch, 45, said she was cleaning her home when the venomous creature struck - and she is still covered in sores.
When Mrs Veitch was first bitten on the ankle, she thought it was a skin irritation caused by the hot summer weather.
But two days later she said her calf and ankle had visibly swollen and she was exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
Mrs Veitch who lives in Harrogate, North Yorks, with husband Richard, 51, said: "I was coughing and couldn't breathe.
"I went to the doctor and he told me that I had a chest infection and bronchitis. While there I got him to check my leg. I was in a terrible state so they put me on steroids"
Just days after she first visited her GP, Mrs Veitch found the false widow spider trapped in her bath tub.
She said: "I took the spider to the doctor and we got it identified by the local environmental health department.
"The doctor said my symptoms were typical of a false widow bite."
The chances of being bitten by a false widow are said to be incredibly low - with no more than 10 spider bites being reported each year in the UK.
They are about the size of a 10p piece and are extremely common in homes up and down the UK.
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