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A 13-year-old Devon boy was hospitalised with a rotting black hole the size of a 50p after a false widow spider bit his arm as he slept.

Jamie Harrison noticed the painful small spot on his skin where the eight-legged fiend had bitten him at his home in Torbay, but it soon swelled to the size of a large boil with an oozing black centre.

After a trip to the GP, Jamie’s security guard dad David Harrison, 45, rushed him to A&E where a doctor confirmed that he had been bitten by a false widow – whose bites produce necrosis of the flesh.

The teen grimaced his way through the ‘painful’ extraction process, which involved the doctor squeezing the bite, leaving a gaping 50p-sized hole on the inside of his left arm.

Jamie said: “It was really horrible, the bite had gone black and had pus in it. I just wanted to get rid of it as it was uncomfortable and looked awful.

“The doctor at the hospital knew straight away it was a false widow spider bite and told me they had to get all the pus out. She then used her hands to squeeze it all out, it was so painful.

(Image: Mercury Press)

“She managed to squeeze all the blackness out. It was a relief when it was all out, but it left behind a pretty big hole about the size of a 50p piece.”

Jamie was bitten at the end of June and after efforts by accounts clerk mum Sarah Harrison, 40, to treat the bite failed, he went to Torbay Hospital A&E on July 1.

What are false widow spiders They are distinctive for their shiny, black flesh, bulbous bodies, thick legs and skull-like patterns.

They have long legs and can reach about 15mm in size.

Also known as steatoda nobilis, the spider is frequently confused for the black widow, which has deadly venom.

The false widow was first spotted in the UK in Torquay, Devon, in 1879, and it is understood that it may have made its way to these shores from Madeira or the Canary Islands in a shipment of bananas. What should you do if you get bitten The first thing you should do is wash the area thoroughly with soap and water to prevent infection - and don't scratch, as if you break the skin there's more chance for bacteria to get in.

Cover bites with a plaster and apply an antihistamine sting cream to calm any inflammation or itching, says Stuart Hine, from the Natural History Museum's identification and advisory service.

Any redness, pain or swelling should subside after three days.

Be alert to potential signs of infection, such as weeping blisters or painful swelling, that continue to get worse after a few days.

If this happens, seek advice from your GP.

There the bite was drained and the cavity was packed with surgical gauze. The teen was given a four-week course of antibiotics and has been left with a small scar.

Jamie said: “I felt a bit better afterwards as it didn’t hurt to the touch but for three weeks I was unable to go swimming with my mates at the beach which was quite annoying.”

(Image: Mercury Press)

Jamie is now more cautious of creepy crawlies and tries to give them a wide berth. Jamie said: “I didn’t really think spiders could do that in this country.

“I didn’t used to be bothered by spiders but now I am – I keep well away from them. I’m just happy that it’s healed like it has.

“If anyone is in a similar situation I recommend they go to the hospital and get it checked out straight away, otherwise it can turn really nasty.”