A 73-year-old man in England is recovering from a frightening medical ordeal after a suspected spider bite caused his leg to swell dramatically, leaving him hospitalized for weeks and struggling to walk more than a month later.
Glenn Priestley, of Blackpool, initially thought little of the strange sensation he felt while renovating his mother’s home in September. But what started as a seemingly harmless bite soon developed into a serious medical emergency.
During an appearance on Britain’s “Good Morning Britain” on Thursday, October 22, Priestley recalled how his leg swelled to what he described as the size of a large watermelon.
The ordeal began September 16, when he was working inside the family home and picked up a blanket that had been lying on the floor near a wall.
As he moved it, Priestley felt a sharp sensation on the back of his left leg. He initially dismissed it as an ordinary insect bite, but moments later spotted an unusual brown spider crawling nearby.
Unlike the spiders he was accustomed to seeing around the house, this one immediately caught his attention.
“This was completely alien to me,” he recalled.
Priestley now suspects the creature had been hiding in the blanket and bit him when the fabric brushed against his leg.
At first, there was little reason for alarm. He continued with his day, unaware that his condition was about to deteriorate.
By that evening, however, his leg had become increasingly painful.
When he pulled up his pants to investigate, he was stunned by what he saw. The limb had swollen dramatically and turned a deep shade of red.
Over the following days, the inflammation continued spreading, and the pain became so severe that even lowering his foot was difficult.
Priestley sought medical attention, and doctors ordered urgent blood tests before sending him to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for further evaluation.
What he expected to be a relatively simple medical visit turned into an extended hospital ordeal.
In his latest television interview, Priestley said he spent 18 days receiving hospital treatment as doctors worked to address the swelling, pain and skin infection that had developed.
The 73-year-old was eventually discharged on October 6, but returning home did not mean his recovery was complete.
His leg remained swollen and heavily bandaged, while the pain in his foot made walking extremely difficult.
More than a month after the suspected bite, Priestley still requires regular visits from a community nurse and uses a walker to get around.
He described the pain as an eight on a scale of one to ten, admitting that the experience had been far more frightening than he could have imagined.
Doctors have not publicly confirmed which type of spider was responsible, but Priestley believes he may have encountered a noble false widow, a species sometimes compared to the more dangerous black widow spider.
The noble false widow, scientifically known as Steatoda nobilis, is considered one of Britain’s more venomous spiders. However, its bites are uncommon and usually cause relatively mild symptoms.
Originally associated with the Canary Islands and Madeira, the species has become established in parts of the United Kingdom and can occasionally be found inside homes.
Despite its intimidating reputation, experts emphasize that most people have little reason to fear these spiders.
Entomologist Dee Patel, appearing alongside Priestley on “Good Morning Britain,” explained that false widow bites are extremely rare and that there have been no confirmed deaths attributed to the spiders in Britain.
She also noted that serious complications can arise after a suspected bite, particularly when an infection develops.
That distinction is important in Priestley’s case because the exact cause of his severe reaction has not been conclusively established. The presence of a spider nearby does not necessarily prove it caused the injury.
Nevertheless, his experience demonstrates why rapidly worsening swelling, severe pain and spreading redness should never be ignored.
Medical professionals recommend seeking prompt treatment when a suspected bite is accompanied by increasing pain, fever, significant swelling or other concerning symptoms.
Priestley now hopes his ordeal will encourage others to take unusual symptoms seriously rather than dismissing them as something minor.
Although he remains hopeful about his recovery, the incident has temporarily taken away much of his independence and turned everyday activities into painful challenges.
He continues receiving treatment while waiting for the swelling to subside and his mobility to improve.
Looking back, Priestley admitted he never imagined that something as ordinary as moving a blanket during home renovations could result in such a difficult medical ordeal.
His advice to anyone facing a similar situation is simple: Don’t ignore serious pain after a suspected bite. Get medical attention before the problem becomes worse.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.