43-year-old British citizen Julia Newton-Mercer faced serious consequences after being bitten by a venomous spider during her vacation on the island of Sardinia in Italy. A typical bite on her ankle turned into a prolonged battle for her life, accompanied by sepsis, multiple surgeries, and the risk of leg amputation.
This is reported by Finway
Complications after the bite and the fight for life
After Julia was bitten by an unknown insect, she did not pay much attention to it at first — the wound only itched and was slightly inflamed. However, over time her health rapidly deteriorated: inflammation developed at the bite site, followed by a large black blister. For several months, doctors could not determine the exact cause of the complications, and various treatment regimens provided no relief.
In August 2023, Julia’s condition sharply worsened. She was hospitalized with sepsis, and doctors warned of the need for immediate surgery to save her life. During a five-hour operation, the medical team removed the affected tissues, trying to preserve the patient’s legs.
“I have essentially lost my former life,” the woman admits. “I would never have thought that all this could happen because of a tiny bite.”
Diagnosis and further health consequences
Doctors determined that the cause of her severe condition was the bite of the so-called violin spider, whose venom can cause tissue necrosis and skin destruction. Despite skin grafts performed in 2024-2025, Julia lost the ability to walk normally: she can move independently for only about 30 seconds. Due to the complications, the woman was forced to resign from her job and take more than a dozen medications daily.
Julia urges other travelers to take precautions: use repellents, wear closed clothing, and carefully monitor the condition of any suspicious bites, not ignoring symptoms and seeking medical attention promptly.
Incidents involving venomous spiders also occur in other countries. For instance, in the USA, 26-year-old blogger Kayla Henderson discovered a dangerous spider in her home, and afterward noticed that her ear began to blacken, likely due to a bite. In Austria, one supermarket had to close after a Brazilian wandering spider was found in bananas, whose venom can cause serious health issues.
Tourist bitten by a spider in Italy