A grandmother died Friday after being bit by a false widow spider - Britain's most venomous spider.
Pat Gough-Irwin, 60, was bit on the tip of her finger by the venomous false widow spider in her home. The false widow spiders are native to the UK and commonly found inside homes - especially in the autumn. They typically have bulbous bodies with white markings.
Gough-Irwin had her bite checked out by her doctor, but was told it wouldn't cause her any serious harm, Independent reports. When the pain didn't go away, the woman checked herself into the hospital.
Last weekend Gough-Irwin underwent surgery to have the tip of her finger - where the false widow spider bit her - amputated, reports Independent. After the surgery she reportedly didn't improve and was "hallucinating" and "confused."
Dr Tim Cockerill, a presenter on BBC's Spider House, told Independent that most spider-bite-deaths are usually not caused by the venom, but due to a bacteria infection in the wound.
The hospital is investigating the death to determine if it was actually casued by the spider bite. If the spider was the cause of death Gough-Irwin will be the first person on record to die from a spider bite in the UK.
